Here is a first look at Formula E’s new steering wheel, thanks to Mahindra Racing boss Dilbagh Gill.

We brought you news back in May that this new unit was on the way. Here’s what we said (though it subsequently appears that electronic brake bias controlled from the steering wheel has not been introduced, although it was under consideration at the time of writing):

To guide the electric single seater racing cars around Formula E’s street circuit tracks, Spark specified a XAP steering wheel for the first and second seasons. By now a familiar sight to Formula E fans, the unit features three large rotary dials, set below a digital screen and flanked by push buttons. A row of shift lights sits just above the screen and four paddles are mounted on the rear.

The steering wheel is an especially important bit of kit in this series because Formula E allows very little telemetry to be relayed to teams during races: it’s up to the driver to keep an eye on critical items, such as powertrain temperature and energy levels, while racing. That information is delivered via the steering wheel screen to the driver, who in turn relays it to the team via the radio.

In the first season, all cars had identical powertrains so the steering wheel was utilised pretty uniformly throughout the paddock. Two of the paddles controlled gear shifts in the five-speed Hewland ’box, one was used to activate Fanboost, and one was used to trigger levels of regenerative braking. The three dials were used to switch between pre-programmed power and torque maps as well as to alter regen settings.

The introduction of new powertrains in season two changed how the steering wheel could be used. DS Virgin Racing and NextEV TCR, for example, both run single gear configurations; without the need to change gear, the paddle shifters are suddenly freed for other uses. Similarly, although Renault e.dams has a twin-gear solution, the car has a manual shifter, which again leaves the paddles free for other uses. It offers the engineers the ability to be even more specific with how they programme the car for each race.

For season three, Spark will introduce a new steering wheel, which will again be a mandatory component for all teams. “It will be much more like an F1-style wheel,” one engineer told us, confirming that XAP will continue as the supplier. “There will be lots more buttons and teams will have greater control over how it is programmed.”

The steering wheel may also allow for electronic brake bias adjustment, rather than the manual knob which is currently employed. “The FIA doesn’t want a fully automatic system,” our source explained, when asked if teams would be able to use the new systems to use programming to autonomously balance brake bias with changing regen levels, something drivers have to do themselves presently. “The intention is to make the cars relatively hard to drive to keep the focus on the driver. Electronic brake bias would still support that aim but would allow the driver to keep his or her hands on the steering wheel, which is better for safety and for the racing.”

Here’s how Mahindra Racing had programmed their steering wheel in season two with a detailed key below (first published as part of our Blueprints series):