One week after the spectacular start of the World Championship, Formula 1 moves to Asia for the 18th edition of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Once again, it takes place on the circuit designed by architects Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl, whose layout resembles the Chinese character "shang," meaning "ascending." Last year, 200,000 spectators attended the event, a 25% increase compared to the previous edition held in 2019.
The GP data
According to Brembo Group engineers who work closely with all Formula 1 drivers, the 5.451 km long Shanghai International Circuit falls into the category of moderately demanding tracks for brakes. On a scale from 1 to 5, it has earned a difficulty index of 3 because the three Hard braking zones are spaced apart and interspersed with at least one Light braking zone, allowing the braking system to recover. Over the course of a lap, brakes are used for 16.6 seconds, equivalent to 18% of the race duration.
The toughest corner
The most demanding corner for the braking system at the Shanghai International Circuit is Turn 14. Being preceded by a 1.2 km straight, it allows single-seaters to reach 318 km/h before relying on the brakes. The cars lose 246 km/h, dropping to 72 km/h in just 2.66 seconds while covering 113 meters. Drivers apply a brake pedal force of 174 kg and experience a deceleration of 4.7 g, with braking power reaching 2,450 kW.
Michael's last victory
The 2006 Chinese Grand Prix went down in history as Michael Schumacher’s 91st and final Grand Prix victory. Remarkably, in qualifying, the German driver only managed the 6th fastest time, trailing Fernando Alonso by 1.4 seconds. Schumacher remained in 6th place for the first 7 laps before starting his charge; by lap 17, he was on the podium behind the two Renaults, which were equipped with different tire compounds. The Ferrari driver overtook Alonso on lap 31 and Giancarlo Fisichella on lap 42, securing victory with a three-second lead.
The brake setup of the time
In 2006, Michael Schumacher drove the 248 F1, powered by a 2,398 cm³ V8 engine Ferrari's first V8 in Formula 1 since 1964 when Brembo had been founded just three years prior. That car featured a composite monocoque chassis, lighter than its predecessors, and a Brembo braking system, which this year celebrates 50 years in Formula 1. The carbon discs used at the time featured 100 oval-shaped ventilation holes, replacing the circular holes used in previous years, marking an innovative breakthrough.
Current brake discs
The oval holes in carbon brake discs remained in use for two years until 2008 when Brembo developed the capability to drill ventilation holes in two rows, doubling the number. Over the years, machining advancements allowed for 600 holes in 2012, surpassing 1,000 in 2014, and reaching 1,480 holes of 2.5 mm diameter across seven rows in the Very High Cooling variant introduced in 2020. However, since 2022, regulations mandate a minimum hole diameter of 3 mm, limiting the number to a maximum of 1,100 holes per disc.