Some innovations are designed to stop faster, while others are created to flow more freely. Brembo’s Anti-Drag System belongs to this second category: an idea that appears simple, yet took years of research and development to become a reality.

Its origins lie in the laboratories and racetracks of Formula 1 — the most extreme testing ground in the world for braking systems.

In 2017, Brembo introduced a device capable of eliminating residual torque — that small yet constant resistance generated when discs and pads remain in contact even during non-braking phases.

In an F1 car, where every thousandth of a second and every joule of energy matter, even the slightest friction is an enemy: it slows acceleration, raises temperatures, and consequently increases fuel consumption.

Moreover, since it’s not a controllable phenomenon, it leads to the well-known issue of “unbalance” often complained about by many drivers.

Brembo’s objective was clear from the very beginning: to make the brakes, when not needed, become invisible.

But as often happens, innovation is born out of necessity — in this case, the need to solve a side effect of another revolution.

Shortly before, Brembo had introduced the amplified caliper — a masterpiece of engineering that exploits the principle of the inclined plane to increase braking force.

In practice, the pads slide on angled surfaces: when the driver presses the brake pedal, an additional force component is naturally generated, multiplying the braking torque. The result?

More powerful braking and a system capable of delivering unmatched performance.

However, this brilliant solution came with a side effect: during release phases, due to the inclined geometry of the pads, they tended to lightly graze the disc, creating that annoying residual torque Brembo aimed to eliminate.

The answer came with the torsional spring anti-drag system. Integrated into the amplified caliper, this device retracts the pads when the driver is off the brakes, fully freeing the disc.

It’s a mechanism as ingenious as it is refined, because in amplified calipers the contact point between the anti-drag lever and the pad changes progressively as the pad wears.

But thanks to a meticulously engineered design, the system operates with precision under all conditions and throughout the component’s entire lifespan.

In other words, Brembo managed to retain both advantages: maximum braking power, zero drag when released.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP and Superbike

The idea, originally developed for the fastest single-seaters in the world, soon made its way to two wheels as well.

In 2019, the Anti-Drag System debuted in MotoGP, where Brembo’s amplified calipers — paired with carbon discs and pads — face extreme temperatures and mechanical stresses.

In this case, the torsional spring was replaced by a compression spring, better suited to the compact dimensions of motorcycle calipers. The principle, however, remains the same: retract the pads during release phases, ensuring a completely free wheel and a sensation of total smoothness.

Shortly after, the technology reached the World Superbike Championship. Here, despite the ban on carbon discs and pads, Brembo succeeded in transferring the concepts of amplification and anti-drag to steel brake systems. The materials and operating temperatures change, but the philosophy remains the same: maximum efficiency, zero drag.

Once again, the world of racing proved to be the ultimate testing ground for Brembo’s technical ingenuity — an environment where every solution is adapted, refined, and optimized to meet the specific demands of each category.

From the Track to the Road: The Philosophy of Total Efficiency

Today, the anti-drag principle also lives on in road braking systems. While amplified calipers specifically designed for street use don’t yet exist, the idea of retracting the pads to eliminate residual torque has become a cornerstone for improving efficiency, fuel economy, and driving comfort.

In everyday vehicles — where brakes operate quietly for hundreds of thousands of kilometers — reducing residual torque means lower energy losses and a tangible increase in range and performance. In this context, Brembo has developed another cutting-edge solution: the Enesys spring system.

This spring, the result of years of research, allows the pads to retract with constant precision, preventing unwanted friction and keeping the braking system cool, quiet, and efficient over time.

In a way, Enesys represents the “civilian” version of the same philosophy that has driven Formula 1: eliminating everything that hinders performance — not only when slowing down, but also, and above all, when accelerating.

From Track to Road, Brembo’s Ingenuity Never Stops

As is often the case with innovations born under the pressure of the stopwatch, the Anti-Drag System exemplifies the consistency of Brembo’s philosophy: every solution developed for world champions doesn’t stay confined to the pits but is refined, adapted, and made available for everyone.

From the torsional spring in Formula 1 calipers to the Enesys system in road cars, the common thread remains the same: experiment, evolve, and transfer technology to make every braking and every acceleration perfect.