In the world of sim racing, the Fanatec ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® is clearly positioned as a "serious" package for those who want a real qualitative leap without falling into the extreme high-end PC-only category. We're talking about a Direct Drive ClubSport base, delivered with a licensed F1-style steering wheel, designed for those who drive often, for a long time, and who want to get closer to a modern single-seater experience. On paper, it promises solid torque, fine force feedback, broad compatibility and a complete ecosystem. My angle is simple: how much does this bundle really change the feel compared to a belt-driven base, and do precision and versatility follow behind the "F1" marketing? Do we have a setup that we'll keep for several years, or just an enthusiast's whim?

Design & manufacturing

The ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® is visually impressive. The Direct Drive base is compact but dense, with a machined aluminum block and serious crankcase that inspire confidence. There's no hollow plastic on the front, and everything looks solid and rigid. In hand, you immediately feel that this is no "toy", but real simulation equipment. The F1 wheel follows the same philosophy: metal structure, Alcantara or leather grips depending on the version, metal paddle, numerous well-spaced buttons and encoders. It really feels like a tool, not a gadget.

What struck me immediately was the rigidity of the whole. There's no perceptible flex between the base and the steering wheel, even when forcing the rim under heavy loads. The paddles have a crisp, dry click that gives the impression of precise mechanics. Buttons are firm, with clear, play-free feedback. You can dare to use them on the run without fear of damaging them. This is the kind of detail that gives you confidence over time.

There are a few drawbacks, however. The F1 steering wheel remains relatively compact, which fits in perfectly with the single-seaters, but can feel a little "cramped" for those who come from a large, round GT steering wheel. The weight of the rim, combined with the density of the base, also demands a very rigid cockpit: on a light stand or desk, you lose some of the interest of Direct Drive. Compared with more entry-level sets such as CSL DD or belt drives, the overall feeling of solidity is clearly superior, with that extra "semi-pro" notch. Compared with more premium in-house bases or more powerful competitors, however, we feel that Fanatec has sought a balance: strong, clean, but without going overboard visually or with ultra-luxury finishes.

Settings & customization + compatibility

One of Fanatec's strong points is the settings management integrated into the base and steering wheel. The ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® is no exception. You'll find the usual menus via the wheel's display and buttons: overall force, filter, damper, interpolation, linearity, rotation, vibration sensitivity... Fanatec's presets for big games help you get off to a good start quickly, then adjust according to your style. Honestly, you can ride very well with just a few tweaks: force, rotation, light filter. The rest comes in handy as you start to fine-tune the feel of each car.

The learning curve is not steep, but it's not plug & play like a basic console steering wheel. You have to be willing to spend a little time on it, especially if you've come from a softer belt-driven base. However, once you understand how the filter, damper and brute force interact, you'll find a very convincing balance between detail and comfort. The good news is that all this can be done without leaving the cockpit, via the steering wheel, which really makes life easier during tuning tests.

In terms of compatibility, we're sticking to Fanatec's logic: PC without worries, and console compatibility depending on the version of the base and/or steering wheel, to be checked before purchase. The surrounding ecosystem is dense: other GT or rally steering wheels, Clubsport or CSL pedalboards, H shifters, handbrakes, advanced paddle modules... The ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® integrates very well into an existing setup, or serves as a solid base for upgrading the rest. On a rigid cockpit, you really benefit from Direct Drive. On an entry-level support, power and responsiveness are likely to be hampered by parasitic vibrations.

In practice, I clearly see this bundle as a durable base, not just an entry point. You can start with this F1 kit, then add a more versatile GT steering wheel and a higher-end pedalboard, without ever feeling you've "outgrown" the base. This is an important point in terms of perceived value: you're buying a setup center that's here to stay.

Sensations in play

It's on the track that the ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® really speaks for itself. Compared with a belt drive, the first thing you notice is the cleanliness of the signal. You feel the torque of the Direct Drive immediately, but above all the finesse of the variations. Small losses of grip, micro-movements of the chassis, transitions between grip and glide are all much clearer. You immediately understand what the car is doing.

In fast corners, the steering remains stable but lively. You can feel the load building up on the front, then that slight float when you start to ask too much of the tires. It's not just a steering wheel that forces you, it's information you can use. You have time to react before the car stalls completely. On slow bends, the ability to dose short corrections makes all the difference. Torque arrives quickly, but the base remains controllable, and you can work at the wrist without ever fighting against a "stupid and nasty" FFB.

Grip reading is a real strength. On a GT3 or a proto, it's easy to tell the difference between a tire that's still supported and one that's sliding sideways. The steering wheel lightens slightly, then vibrates, with a clear transition. On a less powerful base, this information tends to be drowned out by a softer FFB. Here, there's a pleasing sharpness, especially when you start driving hard or looking for the limit in qualifying. On single-seaters, the F1 rim comes into its own: high-speed oversteer corrections are more natural, quicker, with less arm movement.

The vibrators are well managed. You can feel the texture, the number of grooves, the moment when you bite off a little too much and the chassis starts to bounce. It's not just a sound of vibrations in the steering wheel, you really feel the difference between a flat vibrator and an aggressive "sausage" that can destabilize the car. This is where the base really changes the experience. You start to get a much more precise feel for the width of the track, simply by feeling it in your hands.

On long sessions, consistency is the order of the day. No perceptible drop in power, no annoying warm-up. Fatigue comes more from the intensity of the information than from an excess of raw torque. It's also important to calibrate power correctly: pushing the base all the way is of little interest over time, and it's better to find a setting where you can exploit the effort range without struggling physically. Once this point has been set, you can link relays together, maintaining good precision in the last few minutes.

In rapid corrections, the ClubSport shows its responsiveness. When the car stalls, the steering wheel reacts immediately, without the feeling of latency sometimes experienced with a less rigid base. You can catch the start of a spin with a sharp countersteer, without feeling "carried away" by the base. Control remains in the pilot's hands, which is crucial for confidence. You dare to push a little harder at the start of the turn because you know you have room to correct.

Faced with an even more powerful base, we obviously lose out on maximum torque, especially for those who like very heavy FFBs. But in practice, for advanced but non-professional sim racing use, we're already in a zone where the limiting factor is often the pilot, not the base. Compared with an entry-level Direct Drive or belt-driven base, the jump in immersion and control is very clear. The car becomes less "fuzzy", and you drive less by visual instinct and much more by feeling in your hands.

For whom? + What we like / What we don't like

The ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® is clearly aimed at motivated sim racers. I see it ideally between the serious intermediate player and the confirmed driver who rides several times a week. For a complete beginner, it's still usable, but the real potential won't be exploited right away, and the investment may seem disproportionate at first. On the other hand, for someone who's already comfortable with an entry-level or mid-range steering wheel and wants a real feel-gap, it's a very coherent candidate.

What I like most is this mix of precision, perceived solidity and versatility. The base has enough power and resolution to do justice to modern GTs, protos and single-seaters, without becoming unmanageable or too demanding in terms of installation. The F1 steering wheel is a pleasure to use for everything to do with single-seaters and prototypes, with plenty of settings at your fingertips. The materials and rigidity inspire real confidence, giving you the feeling of buying a piece of equipment that can remain at the center of your setup for a long time to come.

Still, there are limits to keep in mind. The F1 rim format is excellent for open-wheel racing, but less natural for rallying, drifting or even some GTs, where a round steering wheel provides greater comfort and precision in wide turns. Eventually, therefore, you'll have to accept the idea of buying a second steering wheel if you ride in several disciplines. Another point: to take full advantage of Direct Drive, a cockpit or a very rigid support is almost mandatory. On a desk or light support, some of the interest and fine feedback is lost, or even replaced by parasitic vibrations.

Finally, the overall investment is not insignificant. Between the price of the base, the F1 steering wheel and the rest of the setup (pedals, cockpit, possibly a second rim), we're talking about a budget that requires some thought. On the other hand, the perceived value is solid: we're talking about a product that's clearly positioned as more than just a hobby, one that can keep up with a rider's progress over several years without giving the impression of being quickly outdated.

Verdict

The Fanatec ClubSport Racing Wheel F1® changes one thing above all else in a setup: the clarity of the information that reaches your hands. We've gone from a steering wheel that "forces" to a tool that tells us what the car is doing in real time. Coupled with serious manufacturing and a rich ecosystem, the result is a setup center capable of holding its own against many amateur competition-oriented configurations.

On the market, it's clearly positioned in the accessible premium segment: more accomplished and more rigid than an entry-level Direct Drive, less extreme than a very high-end base designed solely for PCs and ultra-rigid cockpits. It's an interesting pivot point for those who want to take a big step forward without sacrificing user comfort and console/PC compatibility (depending on version).

I'd recommend it to those who ride regularly, who are beginning to feel the limits of their current base, and who want clean, precise, usable force feedback. For the occasional player or someone who doesn't have a cockpit worthy of the name, other more modest options will often be more rational. If you're looking for a solid, upgradeable Direct Drive that's convincing in single-seaters and capable of keeping up with your progress, this product can clearly make the difference in your setup.