Short answer: no — at least, not anymore.
How it used to be
In the old days, Formula 1 cars had a traditional three-pedal setup: accelerator, brake, and clutch. Drivers had to physically press the clutch pedal to change gears, just like in a manual road car.
The modern setup
- Today’s F1 cars use sequential, semi-automatic gearboxes with paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.
- The clutch still exists, but it’s no longer a pedal. Instead, it’s controlled by hand-operated paddles on the back of the steering wheel.
- Drivers mainly use the clutch at the start of a race (to launch off the line) or when leaving the garage. After that, gear changes are seamless and fully electronic.
Why the change?
- Speed: Paddle shifters cut gear change time to just milliseconds.
- Safety: Removing the clutch pedal gives more space in the footwell, reducing the risk of leg injuries in crashes.
- Consistency: Electronics manage clutch bite and gear timing better than human reflexes ever could.
The drivertalk take
Modern F1 drivers don’t have to heel-and-toe like Senna or wrestle with gear levers like Fangio. But don’t let the lack of a clutch pedal fool you — controlling the bite point off the start line with hand paddles is one of the trickiest arts in racing. Miss it by a fraction, and your race is blown before Turn 1.
