The month of October opens with the Bahrain GP which, following the agreement between the two governments, the FIA and Formula 1, takes place in Malaysia.
Located about fifty kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur, the Sepang International Circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke and was inaugurated on 9 March 1999, just 14 months after construction began. This year’s event marks the 20th Formula 1 Grand Prix hosted by the Malaysian track.
The GP data
According to the engineers of the Brembo group who work in close contact with all the Formula 1 drivers, the 5,479-metre-long Sepang International Circuit falls into the category of circuits that are moderately demanding on brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it earned a difficulty index of 3 because the brakes are used 6 times per lap for a total of 13.2 seconds: 3 braking sections are in the Hard category, one Medium and 2 Light. In 5 of these corners, deceleration is at least 3 g.
Don't miss out...
SENSIFY is the first intelligent braking system that independently controls all four wheels
The hardest corner
According to the simulations carried out, Turn 15, the final corner before the finish line, is the hardest on the braking system at the Sepang International Circuit. The single-seaters arrive there at 307 km/h and slow down to 93 km/h in 2.58 seconds, during which they cover 121 metres. Formula 1 drivers apply a load of 189 kg to the brake pedal and are subjected to a deceleration of 4.7 g. Braking power, meanwhile, reaches 2,177 kW.
Watch the name
The history of Formula 1 is rich with Grands Prix held in countries different from the names they bear, starting with the San Marino Grand Prix, which was staged 26 times at Imola, in Italy. There were also two editions of the Luxembourg Grand Prix, held at the Nürburgring, in Germany. Then there are the European Grands Prix raced at Baku (Azerbaijan), Valencia and Jerez (Spain), Donington and Brands Hatch (England), and the Nürburgring. The same often happens with some supercars: the calipers are branded with the name of the manufacturer even though they are designed and produced by Brembo.
The first hat trick
It was not until the 11th GP held at the Sepang International Circuit, in 2009, that a driver achieved the hat trick of pole position, victory, and fastest lap in the race. The man behind it was Jenson Button in the Brawn GP fitted with Brembo brakes. That year, the new regulations led to the introduction of KERS and a reduction in aerodynamic downforce, while mechanical grip increased thanks to the return of slick tyres. As a result, the load on the vehicle’s front axle increased by 5 percent, reaching a level ranging between 60 and 65 percent.
The right countermeasures
In 2009, Brembo made the braking system easier to manage by designing rear brake calipers that were lighter and more compact than the previous year. In addition, Brembo engineers redefined the specifications of the friction materials to make the rear axle less sensitive to variations in torque and temperature. These proved to be the right choices because that year Brembo brakes won 15 of the 17 Grands Prix: the debuting Brawn GP claimed 9, as well as the World Championship with Jenson Button, while Red Bull finished runner-up with 6 victories.