where is the gas and brake in an f1 car

If you’ve ever watched a Formula 1 race, you’ve seen drivers navigate incredible speeds and complex corners with seemingly superhuman skill. It all comes down to their control of the car, which starts with two fundamental pedals. But the cockpit of an F1 car is a tight, custom-fit capsule, and nothing is quite where you’d expect if you’re used to a regular road car. So, for anyone curious about the basics of driving one of these speed machines, the first question is often, where is the gas and brake in an F1 car?

So, Where is the Gas and Brake in an F1 Car?

Inside an F1 cockpit, you’ll find only two pedals. Unlike the three-pedal setup in a manual transmission road car, there is no clutch pedal for the driver to operate during a normal drive. The two pedals are arranged in a specific way: the brake pedal is on the left, and the gas pedal is on the right. This left-side brake might feel unusual at first, but there’s a brilliant reason for this design. It allows the driver to use both feet simultaneously—a technique called “left-foot braking.”

Why the Pedals Are Set Up This Way

This unique layout is all about speed and control. By using their left foot for braking and their right foot for accelerating, drivers can switch between the two actions almost instantly. There’s no valuable time wasted moving one foot back and forth. This is crucial for maintaining balance and speed through a corner, as a driver can lightly tap the brake while keeping the engine revs up. The clutch is still there, but it’s not a pedal. Instead, it’s operated by paddles mounted right behind the steering wheel, leaving the driver’s feet dedicated solely to stopping and going.

More Than Just Pedals: The Steering Wheel Hub

The control doesn’t stop at the footwell. The steering wheel is a complex command center covered in buttons, dials, and paddles. While the right foot manages the gas pedal’s pressure for acceleration, the driver’s hands are busy shifting gears using paddles—a pull on the right paddle for an upshift and the left for a downshift. This seamless integration of hand and foot controls allows for the lightning-fast reactions needed in Formula 1.

While the fundamental actions of braking and accelerating are the same as in any car, the execution in an F1 car is a finely tuned dance. The pedal layout is a key part of that, designed purely for ultimate performance on the racetrack.