Fanatec Formula V3 vs V2.5X – What’s Changed

With the release of the Fanatec Formula V3 steering wheel, I thought I’d compare both this V3 wheel, and the ClubSport Formula V2.5. There are a lot of similarities and some key differences.

Both wheels are available to purchase, so hopefully this comparison guide will help you decide which of these Fanatec Clubsport Formula wheels is right for you.

Fanatec Formula V3 vs V2.5 comparison overview

Fanatec’s latest Formula V3 steering wheel is really designed to evolve the existing Formula design and structure, and improve upon it, rather than completely redesign it. This has led to a lot of carry over from the previous design, with some elements being completely unchanged.

Below is an overview comparison of both the Formula V3 and V2.5.

	Fanatec Formula V3	Fanatec Formula V2.5X
Price	€349.95 / $349.99	€369.95 / $369.99
Compatibility	PC Only	Xbox & PC
Shop	View Formula V3	View Formula V2.5

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How are the Formula V2.5 and V3 the same?

I want to start by looking at the similarities between the two Formula wheels, because there are a lot of them. Then I’ll take a look at what is new.

Design language

You will immediately notice the same design language used across the V2.5 and V3 wheels. We have carbon fibre in the same places, similar or exactly the same inputs in places, and the overall shape hasn’t really changed.

This had led to the hand grips being identical from the front. They look and feel identical to the older V2.5, and are even the same material with a perforated leather finish. If you found the old wheel comfortable, you’ll feel the same with this V3 wheel.

Input clusters

All inputs are laid out in the same places. The top corner input clusters that consist of four push buttons, the up, down switches and the thumb encoders are identical. All of these inputs are in the exact same position, using the exact same housing and shrouding.

The rev lights across the top of the wheel are identical, although a tiny bit higher towards the top of the wheel. And the flag lights in the side input clusters are again identical to before.

The center inputs have been tweaked slightly to accommodate the wider diameter of the V3 wheel, but are positioned very similarly to before.

Shifters and quick release

Around the back of the Formula V3 wheel, you’ll find the exact same magnetic paddle shifters that were on the V2.5 as standard. You also get a pre-installed QR2 quick release, again identical to before.

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What’s new on the Fanatec Formula V3

And that leads me onto the differences and upgrades from the V2.5 to the V3 wheel. One of the core differences is that the Formula V3 is now 20mm wider. It has grown from 270mm to 290mm, and this makes the wheel feel more realistic to sim race with. It has also allowed room to fit the new integrated display which I’ll look at in a minute.

Inputs

Back on the front of the wheel, the center input cluster that I mentioned was similar, does feature some key upgrades.

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There are now three front facing encoders, rather than just two. On the previous wheel, the center encoder was actually just a four way switch to toggle shifter modes. The encoders themselves have also been re-designed to make them easier to grab, and mask the unselected numbers better.

The three push buttons are also spaced further apart to make them easier to reach while driving on track.

Other improvements to inputs include replacing the left hand joystick with a true 7-way funky switch. This adds additional inputs to the left stick which is nice to navigate your MFD or black box with.

The two thumb encoders also have a new click input, while the rotation has been stiffened to provide more feedback and precision during use. The older Formula V2.5 wheel suffered from the thumb encoders being too loose, making them tricky to use.

It is also worth noting that the tuning menu button is now lower to the left, making it easier to access while racing.

New OLED display

The key upgrade in the Formula V3, and the one most sim racers will be excited about, is the new 2.7 inch display. This screen is identical to the one found in the Podium Endurance Hub, and can display a variety of information.

It uses Fanatec’s ITM (Intelligent Telemetry Modes) to display youir current lap time, speed, tyre temperatures and much more. The functionality can be changed within Fanatec’s app, allowing you to switch screens and choose which information is shown.

This is a black and white OLED display only, with all telemetry being clear and easy to read. However, this screen does lack some customisation and advanced functionality that many other big-screen sim racing steering wheels include.

Better upgradeability

One subtle change has been made to the hand grips. These are now easier to replace with third-party grips. The rear locking mechanism has changed, meaning you can remove the hand grips without having to fully disassemble the steering wheel.

Fanatec has stated that they’ll be releasing upgrade options in the future that could include different hand grip materials and colourways.

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Is the Formula V3 a worthy upgrade?

This new Fanatec ClubSport Formula V3 steering wheel introduces improvements across the board. The new display alone is a big upgrade, as few Fanatec products have displays as large as this one. While it isn’t a full 4 inch + colour display, it is still a big improvement on the previous generation Formula wheel.

Most notably, the price of this new Formula wheel is actually lower than the Formula V2.5X. This fact alone makes this V3 steering wheel a very strong contender.

It doesn’t have the same console compatibility of the previous generation wheel, which may have led to the lower price point. However, if you are sim racing on a PC, this wheel is a no brainer over the older version.

Watch my review of the Fanatec Formula V3 steering wheel

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• Written by Rich Article updated on April 28, 2026 Tags: Buyers Guide, Fanatec, Sim Racing Product Guides

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