Customization, telemetry and maintenance
Each team, according to the specific needs of the car, together with Brembo technicians, define the optimal ratio between weight and stiffness that the brake calipers must have. The sophisticated design methods available for Brembo engineers will make it possible to design for each team a brake caliper model that will optimize the desired weight-stiffness ratio. In this situation some teams will prefer lighter but also less stiff calipers, while others will opt for more conservative solutions characterized by a greater stiffness but also increase weight.
This delicate balance allows Brembo to develop the braking system in a totally autonomous way.
Using the
sensors, the teams know, in every moment, the temperature of discs and calipers. In this way they are able to calculate instantly disc and pad wear. Evaluating the data, technicians are able to give the driver any indications to adjust the brake balance of the car. This happens when anomalies are found. As for carbon pads, for 2021 Brembo offers teams
a choice of two different compounds.
On average, each team orders from 10 to 15 sets of Brembo calipers per year. This number allows to safely face any accidents and the lack of availability of some sets for revision. Some teams, on the other hand, proceed initially to a reduced order, foreseeing a development during the season and then a subsequent order of additional optimized calipers.
On circuits with a lot of brake zone in sequence,
the temperature of the calipers reaches 200°C. The useful life of a Formula 1 caliper does not exceed 10.000 km, during which periodic revisions are scheduled and carried out directly by Brembo inside of its production departments.
As regards to friction material,
during the season Brembo supplies each team from 150 to 300 discs and up to 600 brake pads.