Ferrari and Brembo share over 50 years of technology, passion, and victories.
Marco Civinelli, Head of Chassis Mechanical and Operation Design at Ferrari HP, and Andrea Algeri, Racing Car Market Manager at Brembo, have known each other for over 15 years.
The Meeting That Changed the History of Brakes
The beginning of the collaboration between Brembo and Ferrari marks one of the most significant turning points in Brembo’s history.
Alberto Bombassei, a young entrepreneur at the helm of Brembo, arrived in Maranello with the ambition to present his disc brakes to engineer Enzo Ferrari.
The meeting, initially scheduled for just a few minutes, turned into a one-and-a-half-hour conversation during which the founder of the Prancing Horse, impressed by Bombassei’s serious and respectful approach, decided to place his trust in the small Bergamo-based company that had never before ventured into the F1 circus.
The technical trial exceeded expectations and marked the start of a collaboration that would redefine braking technology standards in the world of motorsport.
As a sign of esteem, Enzo Ferrari gifted Bombassei a personal watch: a symbol of trust that the Brembo patron still wears today.
A Story That Begins in Monaco
It was 1975 when Brembo provided the braking system for the first time to the Maranello team.
The official debut in Formula 1 coincided with the Monaco Grand Prix, and the result was legendary: a victory with Niki Lauda, who that year led Ferrari to both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
Since then, this partnership has helped write some of the most iconic chapters in motorsport history.
Over these five decades, Brembo has participated, as supplier to Scuderia Ferrari HP, in more than 800 Formula 1 Grands Prix, achieving almost 200 wins and 14 Constructors’ World Championships.
A record that is not just about numbers, but continuous technological development.
A High-Speed Synergy
The collaboration between Ferrari and Brembo goes beyond component supply; it is a true multidisciplinary effort involving design, testing, development, and trackside support.
This partnership has seen the testing and track debut of some of Brembo’s most revolutionary solutions, such as the first monobloc caliper in the early ’80s, and the spline mounting system for carbon brake discs in the early 2000s.
"Ferrari’s demands are always challenging,” explains Algeri, “and in Formula 1 development runs at double speed.”
The shared goal is clear: to lighten the car, boost performance, and maximize the driver’s braking feel.
An example? When Ferrari requested increased brake cooling, Brembo responded by increasing the number of ventilation holes in the disc up to 1,000.
A meticulous job, carried out in record time and perfectly integrated with the car project’s requirements.
On Track, Behind the Scenes
The Future? Still Together