You need a racing wheel and pedals to get the most of the F1 game. While it is not a cheap investment, the proper gear will come with many advantages:

• More immersive experience: racing with a wheel feels more like driving a racing car, less like just playing another console game on a controller.
• Improved performance: while you can get quite far with a controller, you will be able to get better lap times with a wheel + pedals. There’s a reason that all esports gamers use them.
• More fun: ever tried racing Monaco on a controller? It sucks! We’re not saying that you will love it with a wheel, but it’s certainly much more enjoyable.

The right gear and racing setup makes a huge difference in your game performance and enjoyment. Read on to see our recommended gear for all budgets and experience levels.

Beginner F1 Wheel and Pedals

If you’re on a tighter budget, or just want to get your first wheel at a lower cost, the Logitech G29 / G920 is a great product. It's one of the most popular F1 gaming wheels. It comes as a set with pedals. The only difference between the two versions is their console support: G29 is for Playstation, G290 for Xbox, both work on PC.

Intermediate F1 Wheel and Pedals

This wheel will provide the best bang for your buck for anyone who is not a hardcore or professional F1 game racer. The Fanatec CSL Elite F1 Set is produced with outstanding build quality, very good force feedback, and creates a true F1 experience. It also allows you to upgrade to load cell pedals as well as a range of other Fanatec wheels in the future. It's compatible with all consoles.

Pro F1 Wheel and Pedals

If you want to leverage the best racing equipment out there, the Fanatec Podium Racing Wheel F1 enables a true esports-level experience. It is a Direct Drive wheel with the most realistic force feedback system. If you can afford it, this is a fantastic choice.

Racing Rig Setup: Wheel Stands & Chairs

Lastly, you also need to make sure that your new wheel and pedals are set up properly at home. Even the best steering wheel is no fun if it’s not mounted well and constantly slides back and forth.

Option 1: Table Clamp

If you’re just starting out, most wheels can be clamped to your desk. Just make sure that your wheel comes with a desk clamp. Also, for your pedals, you should have carpet or a similar surface under the desk, so that your pedals won’t slide on the floor.

Option 2: Wheel Stand

If your wheel doesn’t come with a table clamp, or you want a more sturdy setup, you can upgrade to a simple wheel stand. Most wheel stands let you not just fix your wheel, but also tie your pedals to the setup. This gives you a good basic setup, and you can simply use it with your existing gaming chair.

Option 3: Compact Racing Rig

If you’re looking for a more realistic racing experience and also get a good racing chair, we recommend one of the foldable racing cockpit options. They take up far less space at home and can also be stored elsewhere if you don’t need them.

As you get used to your racing rig, you always have the option to upgrade to more professional options with permanent cockpits, such as Next Level Racing F-GT. We’ll share our experience with those in a future article.