Formula 1 resumes after the traditional August break, and it does so in the home of Max Verstappen, who is on track to win his fourth consecutive World Championship.
His rise has led to the revival of Zandvoort, reopened on March 4, 2020, with the "Legendary Lap" of the local favorite behind the wheel of the RB07. That year, due to Covid-19, no races were held, and it was necessary to wait until 2021 for the return of a Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
GP Data
According to Brembo technicians, the 4.259-meter-long Circuit Zandvoort falls into the category of circuits that are not very demanding on brakes. On a scale from 1 to 5, it earned a difficulty rating of 2 despite the presence of 9 braking points per lap. However, only 2 are classified as Hard and one as Medium: for all the others, deceleration does not even reach 3 g, and the brake pedal load remains below 90 kg.
Don't miss out...
SENSIFY is the first intelligent braking system that independently controls all four wheels
The toughest corner
The toughest corner of Circuit Zandvoort for the braking system is Turn 1, nicknamed Tarzan: it is said to have been the nickname of the landowner who agreed to sell the land only on the condition that the corner be named after him. Cars approach it at 308 km/h and slow down to 122 km/h in 2.25 seconds, covering a distance of 116 meters. Drivers experience a force of 4.5 g, and the pressure they apply to the brake pedal is 136 kg. The braking power is 2,303 kW.
There is carbon and carbon.
Formula 1 single-seaters have been using carbon discs for four decades: no other material offers the same combination of lightness, high thermal conductivity, and absence of temperature expansion that distinguishes carbon. These characteristics translate into a high coefficient of friction, stability and consistency of performance, and heat dissipation in a short time.
For road-going supercars, Brembo instead manufactures carbon-ceramic discs. Compared to carbon discs, carbon-ceramic ones feature a matrix of silicon carbide and metallic silicon, reinforced with carbon fiber. This combination ensures the high thermal conductivity and maximum braking power typical of carbon, but also the durability and versatility characteristic of carbon-ceramic. Two benefits for the price of one.
Find the best solution for your car!
Renè's comeback
In 34 editions of the Dutch GP, only Jim Clark and Max Verstappen have managed to win 3 consecutive editions, the Scotsman from 1963 to 1965, and the home favorite from 2021 to 2023.
Verstappen also achieved 3 consecutive poles, although the first 2 with narrow margins: 38 thousandths in 2021, 21 thousandths the following year.
In the 3 GPs in question, the Dutch driver led for a total of 183 laps out of the 216 laps completed, demonstrating unequivocal dominance, to which the Brembo monobloc calipers specifically designed to perform at their best on his Red Bull contributed.
The Dutch genius
The Netherlands has gifted humanity with many geniuses, but none have reached the fame of Vincent van Gogh. His exhibitions continue to draw crowds of visitors, and at least 8 of his masterpieces have been auctioned for over 50 million euros each. Among his works, one of the most recognizable is the Sunflowers, a series now divided among Dutch, Swiss, and American museums. Numerous are also the counterfeit pieces, much like Brembo brakes: many desire them, but not everyone can distinguish the fakes, which is why an app has been developed to verify the authenticity of brake components.