With nine out of the 10 rounds of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 season completed, teams and drivers have gathered a wealth of experience with the new generation of cars. The larger 16-inch tyres and aerodynamic changes stand out visually, but the subtle transformations inside the cockpit and steering wheel are proving just as vital. The 2025 F3 car not only improves driver comfort and performance but also prepares drivers specifically for their transition to F2, the next crucial step toward Formula 1.
Steering wheel design: Smaller handles to fit all drivers
The steering wheel is the primary interface between driver and car, so its design must be both ergonomic and highly functional. Pierre-Alain Michot, the F2 and F3 Technical Director, pointed out how the steering wheel now caters to drivers of varying sizes:
“Aesthetically, the handles have been made smaller to accommodate drivers of all sizes. That’s the main difference looks-wise between the older wheel and the new one. It’s the same hardware overall, but the big differences come with the electronics.”
Smaller handles mean that even younger or smaller drivers can comfortably grip and manipulate the wheel during intense racing conditions. A comfortable grip directly improves steering precision and reduces driver fatigue during long race weekends.
Electronics upgrade: The heart of the new steering wheel
Beyond the shape, the heart of the upgrade lies in the electronic systems embedded within the steering wheel. Michot elaborates on the addition of a new Marelli Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), which functions as the car’s electronic brain:
“You have a new Marelli VCU (Vehicle Control Unit), new power box and a lot of new things that the driver controls within the car, but there’s no major changes to the design.”
This new VCU manages a range of vehicle systems, such as engine performance, telemetry data collection, and driver inputs. It allows drivers to adjust parameters directly from the steering wheel, enhancing their ability to react to changing race conditions without needing to communicate through radio or pit boards constantly.
Interchangeability: One steering wheel for two categories
One of the most significant steps toward preparing drivers for the next tier of racing lies in the interchangeability of parts between F3 and F2 cars. Michot explains:
“You could now take a steering wheel from an F3 car and put it on an F2 car, and it would be the exact same. The change with the new car has been made so that the F3 cockpit, from the pedals to the steering wheel, are the same in dimensions as an F2 car.”
This strategic alignment means that when a driver steps up to F2, they encounter a cockpit that feels familiar in both size and function. It reduces the time drivers need to adapt, letting them focus on performance and race strategy rather than adjusting to new controls or seating positions.
Cockpit ergonomics: Same dimensions, smoother transitions
The standardisation of cockpit dimensions extends beyond the steering wheel, creating a near-identical driving environment in both F3 and F2. Michot highlights how this benefits drivers:
“It helps the drivers who step up to F2 from F3… Now, they could take their seat from one car and put it in the other.”
This ergonomic continuity eliminates a key barrier many drivers face when moving up a category. Not having to re-learn seat adjustments or pedal placements allows drivers to concentrate on the finer aspects of racecraft and car setup, enabling a smoother and faster transition.
More driver control at their fingertips
Modern racing demands that drivers manage a variety of car systems actively during a race. The new electronics within the steering wheel have expanded the scope of what drivers can control. Michot says:
“It’s mainly the electronics that have changed because of the needs of the new car. We have a lot more capabilities with the new VCU, and we’re able to accommodate many more features into the steering wheel, like the marshalling system, engine management, and other bits.”
Having direct access to these functions allows drivers to adapt their car’s behaviour on the fly, whether to optimise performance, conserve fuel, or react to changing weather or track conditions. This hands-on control teaches drivers valuable skills they will need as they advance.
Hydraulic systems remain mechanical
Despite the surge in electronic control, some systems remain hydraulic to preserve reliability and responsiveness. Michot clarifies:
“The DRS system is a hydraulic system along with the clutch management and shifting systems for the car, so they’re not directly connected to the new electronics. It’s the same system as in the F2 car, so it’s managed by the Vehicle Control Unit by Marelli but isn’t electronic.”
This approach balances innovation with proven mechanical systems, ensuring drivers experience a blend of tactile feedback and electronic assistance, mirroring what they will encounter in higher categories.
Engine and clutch maps: Tailoring car performance
Drivers can adjust one key feature: the engine and clutch “maps,” pre-programmed settings that change how the car responds to throttle and clutch input. Michot describes their use:
“The main switches on the steering wheel are used to change the engine and clutch maps. When drivers arrive on the grid, they have adjusted the clutch map or the engine map if they want to change the throttle behaviour. We have the start map which must be selected for the start, but once the start procedure is complete, teams and drivers can go to a different map as desired.”
By switching maps, drivers can tailor the car’s behaviour to suit the demands of race starts, overtaking, or conserving tyres and fuel. This ability to fine-tune performance during a race adds an important tactical layer to driving.
Streamlining team operations with standardised parts
The similarities between F3 and F2 cockpits not only benefit drivers but also simplify the work of teams. Michot highlights:
“It helps on our side as well, with the use of common parts and losing the requirement to design and manufacture two different models to accommodate the two cockpits. Now with it being the same for both, it makes teams’ lives easier as well.”
Common parts reduce costs, streamline logistics, and allow teams to focus more resources on race preparation and driver support instead of manufacturing bespoke components.
Enabling quick progression for drivers
Standardisation helps drivers move up the ladder swiftly, especially when they remain within the same team. Michot explains:
“If a driver in F3 wants to move up to F2 and do it quickly in the same team, they could just use the adjustable parts they have in the F3 cockpit in the F2 one instead of buying something completely new.”
This means teams can promote talented drivers faster without delays from parts procurement or adaptation, keeping momentum in a driver’s development.
Preparing drivers for the complexity of higher formulas
As drivers advance toward F1, the number of controls on their steering wheels increases dramatically. Michot stresses the importance of early exposure to complex controls:
“The steering wheel is designed to make sure the drivers are already trained for whatever they have to do in F2 and eventually, F1. If you look at how many switches and rotaries they use in an F1 race, it’s a good step to have an introduction to this.”
Introducing these systems early helps drivers develop the mental agility and familiarity needed to operate high-tech machinery without distraction or error during critical race moments.
Looking back on the season and forward to the future
With just the final F3 round at Monza left in 2025, the season has provided extensive real-world feedback on the new car’s cockpit design and driver interface. The upgrades demonstrate how FIA’s vision to harmonise F3 and F2 components can enhance driver development, improve team efficiency, and maintain competitive racing.
By aligning cockpit and steering wheel designs across the categories, the FIA continues to strengthen the single-seater pathway, better preparing the stars of tomorrow for the challenges of the pinnacle of motorsport.
