The Simagic Q1 and Q1S share the same core: a sequential shifter with a planetary gear mechanism, adjustable damping, a 78 mm handle and a direct USB connection. The difference is the extras. The Q1 adds an integrated gear display and three programmable RGB buttons, while the Q1S drops the screen for a simpler, screenless design. Pick the Q1 if you want gear info and extra buttons by your hand, and the Q1S if you only care about the shift feel.
So the choice is not about quality, but about what you want to see and press during a race. Let us look at both in detail.
What is a sequential shifter and who needs one?
A sequential shifter changes gear with a simple push or pull, one gear at a time.
How it feels in practice
You pull the lever towards you to shift up and push it away to shift down, or the other way round, depending on your setting. There is no gate to find, so every shift is quick and the same. That is why rally cars, touring cars and many race cars use one. Compared with paddles, a lever gives a real physical action. Your arm moves, the mechanism clicks into place, and you feel each gear land.
Which cars and games suit it
A sequential shifter shines in rally titles, in touring car racing and in older race cars without paddles. It also adds a lot of immersion in drifting. For road cars with a manual gearbox, an H pattern shifter is the more realistic choice. If you drive both, a dual mode shifter such as the DS-8X covers H pattern and sequential in one unit.
Simagic Q1 Sequential Shifter - Standard
Q1 versus Q1S: what is really different?
On paper the two look almost the same, so it helps to list what each one adds.
What both share
Both shifters use a planetary gear mechanism. In plain words, a small set of gears inside gives the lever a firm, defined action instead of a soft click. Both have adjustable damping, so you set how heavy and how quick each shift feels. Both use a 78 mm ergonomic handle and plug straight into the PC by USB, so you do not need an extra controller.
What the Q1 adds
The Q1 has an integrated gear display, which shows your current gear right on the shifter. It also has three programmable RGB buttons. You map them to useful functions such as the pit limiter, the headlights or a wiper. On a rally stage, those buttons sit where your hand already is.
What the Q1S leaves out
The Q1S is screenless and has an aluminium housing. It keeps the same shift action and damping but skips the display. If you race in VR or already see your gear on a dash or wheel display, the screen adds little, and the Q1S keeps things clean.
Our founder Johan Akkerman has raced since 2008, from esports titles to real cars, and he won the DNRT BMW E30 Cup championships in 2023 and 2024. In a real car with a manual or sequential box, you never look down at the lever. That habit is a good test: if you never look at the shifter, the Q1S is enough.
Simagic DS-8X H-Pattern Shifter
Where do you mount a Simagic sequential shifter?
Placement decides comfort more than the shifter model does.
Height, reach and angle
Mount the shifter on the right side of the seat, at about the height of your hip or slightly higher. Your elbow should stay bent when you pull the lever, so you never stretch. For rally, many drivers place it a little higher and closer to the wheel, as in a real rally car. Use a rigid side mount. A plate that flexes steals the crisp feel of the planetary mechanism. On SIMGASM rigs, the SIMGASM shifter and handbrake mount bolts to the aluminium profile and gives room for a handbrake next to it. Always check the mounting hole pattern and lever clearance before you tighten the bolts.
Pair it with a handbrake
For rally and drift, a handbrake belongs right next to the shifter. A load cell handbrake gives a precise analogue input. If you are planning a full rally corner, our guide to the Simagic TB-RS hydraulic handbrake setup explains placement and tuning. If you prefer an H pattern for road cars, read our Simagic DS-8X shifter mounting guide.
Which one should you buy?
Your racing style gives the answer in a few seconds.
A quick decision guide
Choose the Q1 when you race on a flat screen, drive rally or touring cars and want extra buttons by your right hand. Choose the Q1S when you race in VR, use a wheel with a display, or want the cleanest look on your rig. Either way, keep the firmware current, as explained in how to update Simagic firmware. You find both shifters, plus bases, wheels and pedals, in our Simagic gear collection. SIMGASM ships directly from its warehouse in Wijk bij Duurstede, the Netherlands.
Questions and answers
Here are quick answers to common questions about the Q1 and Q1S.
Do the Q1 and Q1S feel different when you shift?
No, both use the same planetary mechanism, adjustable damping and 78 mm handle. The difference is the display and buttons on the Q1.
Do you need a Simagic base for the Q1 or Q1S?
No. Both connect directly to the PC by USB, so they work with any wheelbase on PC.
Can you use a sequential shifter for road cars?
You can, but an H pattern feels more realistic in road cars with a manual box. A dual mode shifter like the DS-8X covers both.
Is a sequential shifter better than paddles?
Not faster, but more immersive. In rally and older race cars, a lever feels closer to the real car.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
