Announced at the beginning of February and released immediately afterwards, the Fanatec F1 ESports wheel V2 is the new model under official Formula One license. A strong marketing argument when you consider just how many F1 enthusiasts there are among simracers. And with the release of the new F1 22 title just around the corner, it was high time we tested this Fanatec wheel!
But is this wheel up to the task of finding its place in the Fanatec ecosystem? With 2 other Formula wheels already available from the German brand, what does the F1 ESports V2 have to offer? Letâs find out together đ
The Fanatec Formula ESports V2 steering wheel from a technical point of view
- Base compatibility: all Fanatec bases
- Console compatibility: PC, Playstation
- Vibration: Yes, 2 motors integrated into grips
- Wheel diameter: 27cm
- Materials: Alcantara, aluminum, plastic
- Paddles: 2 aluminum magnetic paddles
- Customizable buttons: 11 customizable buttons, 1 settings access button, 1 clickable and rotatable 4-position funky switch, 1 clickable joystick.
- Lap counter: 9 LEDs 6 LEDs (3 on each side) for displaying flags or wheel locks, for example.
- Display: 3-digit LED
- Connections: Fanatec QR1
- Weight: 1.26Kg
Design and ergonomics
Thereâs no denying it, Fanatec knows what itâs all about when it comes to finishing touches. Right out of the box, even if the Fanatec F1 ESports V2 is less physically impressive than the Formula V2.5, it exudes quality as usual.
The Alcantara grip is very pleasant, but be sure to use gloves or youâll ruin your steering wheel in a few weeks. Ergonomics are the same as on the V1 and are very, very⊠very close to the ergonomics of the Clubsport Formula V2.5. In fact, theyâre both 27cm in diameter. The shape of the grips is identical and the buttons are similarly positioned.
So, in concrete terms, itâs very pleasant to hold, and the buttons are easily accessible without letting go of the grip. Except, of course, for the 3 buttons at the bottom of the steering wheel.
At the rear are two magnetic paddles. These are in fact the CSL Magnetic Paddles module that comes as standard on the steering wheel. This makes the Fanatec F1 ESports one of the cheapest magnetic paddle steering wheels on the market!
To top it all off, itâs a featherweight! 1. 26Kg on the scale, enough to feel every detail of your force feedback even with a low-powered base.
The only downside for me is the screen. I would have appreciated Fanatecâs installation of a small OLED screen for navigating the setup menus. Instead, we get 3 LED digits. It works fine, we agree, but once you get used to the screen, itâs hard to go back.
Installation and compatibility of the Fanatec F1 ESports wheel V2
Letâs move on to installation on my CSL DD. Fanatec chose to install the Quick Release QR1 (in aluminum) as standard. This is good news, as it avoids the problems encountered with the plastic QR1 Lite fitted as standard on the McLaren GT3 steering wheel, for example.
For settings, as usual with Fanatec, you can choose from your 5 saved profiles in a matter of seconds directly from the wheel. Or just wander through the force feedback settings for each of your profiles.
And finally, as regards compatibility, the Fanatec wheel is of course compatible with all the brandâs bases. However, it is reserved for PC and Playstation drivers. No X Box version is currently planned.
Comfort and sensations
Off we go to Assetto Corsa for a few laps around the track. And right from the start, one thing is clear: with its tiny weight, it delivers an enormous amount of detail. This is a very good point, and reinforces my belief that for a GT DD Pro or CSL DD 5Nm owner, it may be a better choice than the Formula V2.5.
The grip is really excellent, and my only small regret on the track is that I would have appreciated a few extra buttons or selectors to be ready for any situation. The magnetic paddles do their job perfectly. In short, thereâs nothing to write home about: this is a steering wheel that gives pleasure and thrills, period!
Customizing the Fanatec F1 Esports V2 steering wheel
As if that werenât enough, Fanatec has opened the door to customization. If you feel like it, you can purchase a Clubsport or Podium paddle kit. Enough to take the fun to another level.
You can customize the knobs using either the standard covers or the comprehensive cover kit available as an option. And to make sure you can enjoy your steering wheel for years to come, the Quick Release can be easily removed and replaced by the QR2 model (which we canât wait to see).
What are the differences with the McLaren GT3 and Formula V2.5 models?
Thereâs one question we raised earlier that has yet to be answered:
Does the Fanatec F1 ESports V2 have a place in the brand ecosystem? And how does it stack up against other Fanatec wheels of the same type?
QR1 Lite
Rubber
2 Push-Pull gear shift paddles
2 clutch paddles
QR1
Alcantara
2 magnetic pallets
V2.5X : PC, PS, XBox
QR1
Perforated leather
2 magnetic pallets
Difficult choice, isnât it? In fact, the Fanatec Clubsport F1 ESports is the best value among Fanatecâs Formula-type wheels.
And why is that? Because itâs super-light, built for durability, customizable and comes standard with the ârealâ QR1. And its ergonomics are on a par with the Formula V2.5, but its price is almost âŹ100 lower.
My verdict on the Fanatec F1 ESports wheel V2
