Entry 3 - Plane geometry in F1 steering wheels

F1 steering wheels have come a long way, especially since the beginning of this century. Let's take a look at them!

During the first 40 years, they kept it simple. Steering wheels were basically wooden or padded circunferences with three metal radius which converge on the central point.

Towards the end of the 1990s, Ferrari revolutionised the design of steering wheels by adding rectangular paddle shifters and displays which gave drivers shift lights, lap times and much more information. Furthermore, they added plenty of circular and hexagonal buttons on the wheel with different functions: team radio, break balance, gearbox neutral position, etc. 

If you want to see these shapes in better detail, click on the 3D version

Once the 2010s arrived, steering wheels were no longer circular and grip kept on improving. Additionally, shift lights became circular and smaller: can you spot them?

Here's the solution

Eventually, with the arrival of hybrid engines in 2014, rectangular displays became bigger so as to have more space for data related to power management and so on.