What it is
The CSL Steering Wheel Flat 1 V2 is Fanatec’s open-wheel rim on the CSL Universal Hub V2. It is a compact 275mm wheel with an aggressively flattened top and bottom, wrapped in suede, and like the rest of the modular CSL rims it carries the hub’s snap-dome shifters and a small 3-digit display. It connects through the QR2 Lite quick release. This is a rim rather than a complete wheelbase, so it adds the grip, buttons and shifters to whatever Fanatec base you run.
Who it’s for
You are the right buyer if you race formula or open-wheel cars and you want a rim shaped for the job. The flat top and bottom and the small 275mm diameter match the fast, small inputs of single-seaters, where you keep your hands fixed at quarter-to-three rather than feeding the wheel. On a Fanatec base it is an inexpensive way to get a proper formula shape without paying for the ClubSport Formula wheel.
You are the wrong buyer if you race GT, rally or drift. Those disciplines need a round rim you can slide through your hands, and the Flat 1’s missing top section makes that impossible. Buy a round CSL rim instead.
In use
For open-wheel work the shape just makes sense. The flattened profile keeps your sightline clear and the compact diameter gives you the quick, direct steering a formula car wants. The suede grip is the right material for gloved hands holding a fixed position. The CSL Universal Hub provides the buttons and the snap-dome shifters, which are fine for the money without pretending to be magnetic ClubSport units.
The hub’s 3-digit display is the only readout. With no RPM LED strip you are shifting by ear or reading the screen, which is the one place a dedicated formula driver might feel the entry-level positioning.
What to watch out for
The shape is single-purpose. This is a feature for formula racers and a liability for everyone else, so be honest about what you drive before buying. If your garage is mixed, a round 320 or the 300mm GT Alcantara is the more flexible choice.
Suede wants gloves to avoid matting, and remember the rim does not grant console support, the base does.
Verdict
A focused, affordable formula rim. For $264 / £209 the Flat 1 V2 gives open-wheel drivers the right shape on a Fanatec base, and its only real weakness, the basic 3-digit display, is shared across the whole CSL line. Just go in knowing it is a committed open-wheel shape and nothing else. If you want a touch more versatility, the Flat 2 V2’s tighter D-shape is the sibling to weigh up.