Unveiled: the purpose of Sebastian Vettel's third paddle on the Ferrari steering wheel

At first glance, this is neither a new innovation nor an unknown element, since a similar solution was already used by Michael Schumacher on some of his cars, although with a different control. But the fact that it is known does not mean it is not delivering results.

The third paddle on Vettel’s steering wheel allows the German driver to regulate the working intensity of the differential, that is, to vary its setup in order to obtain the greatest possible traction and improve the car’s grip, especially through corners.

According to “Motorsport”, Vettel operates the paddle — located on the right-hand side at the rear of the steering wheel, above the clutch control and the rotary sensor of the gear lever — while he takes corners, with both hands firmly holding the steering wheel as he changes the differential setting. Back then, the mechanism used by Schumacher was somewhat more complicated and required up to three different paddles working at the same time in the search for those traction gains.

With the use of this paddle, Vettel not only improves the car’s traction in corners, but also manages to make the tyres wear less, reducing their degradation.

The result, judging by Vettel’s successes this season, has represented a step forward in his title-fight aspirations this season by improving the car’s performance.

Therefore, it has nothing to do with a possible modification of the orientation of the exhausts aimed at using their “blowing” to alter the load on the rear axle. Precisely at this past GP, the FIA stewards reiterated their monitoring of this matter , threatening significant penalties for those who use any mechanism or system that exploits the benefits this provides. At the same time, they also announced the upcoming introduction of changes to the technical regulations for next season regarding the relocation of the exhausts, to prevent in future the exploitation of their blowing over the aerodynamic elements at the rear of the car.