The Austrian F1 GP: nothing like MotoGP

7/5/2022

The use of brakes at the Red Bull Ring and the advantages of Brembo regenerated calipers

After 4 GPs in two years, the Red Bull Ring once again sets the scene for just one event this season. According to Brembo technicians, the Austrian circuit falls into the category of tracks with a medium level of difficulty for the brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it is rated 3 on the difficulty index, the same as the track in neighboring Budapest.

Although it has the same configuration, MotoGP subjects Brembo brake systems to much more stress because their speed on the corners is lower especially in the second part of the Red Bull Ring: in the four braking episodes from turn 6 to turn 10, the two-wheelers have to drop to a speed of no higher than 134 km/h (53.2 mph) whereas the single-seaters only have to slow down to a speed of 200 km/h (124.2 mph).

Brembo excels in providing assistance 

Brembo’s job in F1 does not end with delivery of the various components. During the GP weekends, the Brembo technicians provide assistance to the teams on the race track and make sure they have everything they need. They usually meet up with the drivers and track engineers on the Thursday to assess the work plans and on the Friday to collect the telemetric data.

From the temperature of the discs and calipers to pressure as well as maximum torque, every element in the brake system is examined so that changes can be made if necessary. After roughly 3 GPs (if used at the recommended speeds) the calipers are returned to Brembo where specialized technicians remove them and replace the worn parts, for example the rubber parts, with new components. All in just a few days. On average, each team uses 10-15 sets of calipers, 150-200 discs and up to 600 pads.

Remanufactured calipers - what an opportunity 

Brembo recommends checking the brakes on your car every 15,000-20,000 km (9,300-12,400 mi) or sooner if any vibrations or signs of overheating arise or if radial cracks appear on the discs. For street-legal cars, the need to replace the brake calipers and the other hydraulic components of the braking system (lines, brake cylinders, brake master cylinder) does not depend on wear due to friction, but deterioration or accidental breakage.

With sixty years of experience in manufacturing OEM calipers, Brembo offers a complete range of remanufactured calipers: they are the result of a careful cleaning operation and the replacement of all the internal parts subject to wear and deterioration. The calipers are then coated with a protective, anti-corrosion layer and subjected to functional tests.

Have you ever considered the idea of a remanufactured caliper?

One third of the braking episodes in MotoGP 

Just like the MotoGP bikes, the single-seaters also use the brakes on the same 7 corners. However, the braking intensity as well as the braking times and distances are obviously very different. On 4 of the 7 braking sections, the single-seaters only need 75 meters (246 feet) to brake and on the other 3 do not exceed 140 meters (459 feet). For MotoGP, the braking distances are virtually double but on turn 9, the braking distance is five times longer.

This results in completely different braking times. On one lap, the F1 brakes are used for 10.2 seconds compared with 29 seconds for MotoGP bikes. On 3 of the single-seater braking moments, the braking time is just over half a second as speed of reaction becomes very important. From the starting line to the checkered flag, each driver exerts a total load of almost 55 metric tons on the brake pedal.

1.8 seconds for the hardest braking 

Of the 7 braking sections at the Austrian GP, 3 are classified as highly demanding on the brakes, 2 are of medium difficulty and the remaining 2 are light.

The hardest braking is on the first corner, named after Niki Lauda (first driver in 1975 to win a GP with Brembo) even if the speed is lower on corners 3 and 4. With a load of 143 kg (315 lb) on the brake pedal and a deceleration of 4.7G, the drivers go from 312 km/h (194 mph) to 139 km/h (86 mph) in just 1.78 seconds and cover a distance of 102 meters (131 yards).

And what about the video games?

To perform the first braking moment perfectly in the Austrian GP in the Formula 1 video game, don’t forget that the track is uphill and that if you brake too early you risk coming to a standstill. Moving over to the left-hand side, start braking just before you come to the last stand and move into 4th gear. Wait before moving onto the inner curb, then pick up speed without exaggerating to avoid going beyond the track limits as you come out of the corner.