Brembo has been present in Formula 1 since 1975, and with over 500 Grands Prix won with its braking systems. This year, the group has created new customized solutions for each team. In addition, it will supply the majority of the single-seaters with hydraulic materials such as calipers, pumps and by-wire units and friction components: carbon discs and pads.
Last week, Formu1a.uno anticipated that Red Bull would test a new braking system featuring Brembo discs in Bahrain. So far, the feedback has been positive.
In 2024, the complete presence of Brembo on the starting grid is confirmed. Specifically, 9 teams will be supplied with Brembo calipers, while one team will be supplied with AP Racing calipers. This company is based in Coventry and is part of the Bergamo group.
Brembo will, therefore, assign all the riders on the grid calipers with up to 6 pistons. This is the maximum number established by the regulations.
Brembo ‘monopolises’ F1 and provides two possible choices to the teams for the new year
Technological development in Formula 1 is visible in all areas. Within a few years, innovative solutions become the order of the day before being discarded by more cutting-edge solutions.
This is the case of Brembo discs, which have undergone enormous evolution in the last twenty years. At the beginning of the 2000s, Brembo carbon discs had a thickness of 28 mm, a maximum of 72 holes, their arrangement was in a single row and the diameter of each hole exceeded 10 millimeters.
Today, the diameter of the discs has gone from 278 mm to 328 mm for the front and from 266 mm to 280 mm for the rear. They now have a thickness of 32 mm and between 1,000-1,100 holes at the front. At the rear, there are 900 holes in the most extreme configuration in terms of cooling.
The Italian company has created two types of brake discs to supply to the teams based on the engineers’ preferences based on the direction of their respective projects. The “wide spline” (wide groove) and “single-sided spline” (groove on one side).
The choice of one or the other solution depends on the needs of each individual team based on the design of the individual cars , and the differences are explained in detail by Brembo: in the “wide spline” specification, the thickness of the drag-part in contact with the bell – is equal to the thickness of the disc.
In the “single sided spline” the thickness of the drag is smaller than the thickness of the disk. This second solution can favor a different disc ventilation strategy and better packaging of the wheel corner but at the expense of optimal mechanical stress on the carbon, which limits the possible perforation for ventilation.
Each team, based on their needs, worked with Brembo engineers to find the optimal ratio between weight and stiffness.
The sophisticated design methodologies available to Brembo made it possible to design a customised model of brake caliper. By doing this, a desirable ratio is attainable.
In this scenario, some teams will favor lighter but also less rigid calipers. Others opt for stiffer but heavier solutions.
There will be five teams supplied by Brembo and AP Racing brake pumps. Meanwhile, four teams will mount by-wire units developed by Brembo.
They have the purpose of managing rear braking, varying the contribution of dissipative braking. Ensuring the correct balance between the front and rear axles is essential. Finally, eight teams will mount clutches made by AP Racing .
During the race, we often witnessed communications between the track engineer and the drivers regarding the brake temperatures.
In this sense, the first race in Bahrain will already be a first test for the braking system, given the numerous sudden braking, especially in turns 1 and 4.
Brembo has revealed how the wall/driver communication takes place based on the data coming out of the car. Using sensors present in the wheel corners, the team engineers can see the temperature of the discs and calipers.
Also, based on the data, they can help drivers optimally manage tyre temperatures.
Author: Andrea Vergani
Translation: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
