F1 brakes are hard because regulations require all of the braking force to be generated by the driver alone, so there can be no power assistance. There is also rarely a need for gentle braking, so the pedal is almost like an on/off switch.
A key point of intrigue for the fans, both casual and avid, is how hard an F1 car can brake. Fans are often surprised to find that an F1 car can decelerate at more than 5g, that means under peak braking, the driver's body is moved forward with a force of 5 times that of the unaccelerated state.
Cars hit the brakes at around 322km/h and brake for 1.6s to slow to around 148km/h. This takes only 49 metres, with 4.7g deceleration and a force on the brake pedal of 161kg.
I watched the Speed telecast of the race and at one point the announcers mentioned that they spoke to a representative from Brembo who said that the drivers would be applying 350 lbs of force to the brakes for the lead up to turn 12. And they went on to say it is akin to doing a 350 lb leg press with one foot.
Conclusion. F1 cars are incredibly sensitive on the brakes. There is a lot that goes into the braking procedure.
The pinnacle of braking technology today, used in Le Mans Hypercars and Formula 1 cars, is called carbon-carbon. Carbon rotors are clamped by carbon brake pads, each capable of absorbing enormous amounts of heat and shedding it quickly, over and over again.
ABS was allowed in the sport until 1993, when it was banned for allegedly shifting the driver's focus from their own driving skills to relying on technology. Traction control is a driver assist used to stop wheelspin in cars.
The disks reach peak temperatures during braking of 700°C~900°C, with temperatures of 1000°C not unknown. They do, however, cool very quickly and the average temperature of the brakes on an F1 car is around 500°C. At temperatures above 700°C the brakes experience thermal oxidisation which accelerates wear.
To do this, the drivers will brake for around 2.66 seconds, applying a load of 195 kg (430 lbs) on the brake pedal. From lights out to the chequered flag, each driver exerts an overall load of 31.6 tonnes on the brake pedal; only the Silverstone circuit boasts a higher figure.
The fluid pressure is delivered directly to the front brake callipers. Inside each calliper, six pistons clamp pads against the disc - and it is this friction that slows the car down.
F1 brakes are hard because regulations require all of the braking force to be generated by the driver alone, so there can be no power assistance. The forces required can exceed 150 kg (330 lbs), but the G-forces the drivers experience under braking effectively 'help' them press the pedal.
One-pedal driving helps your brakes last longer because you're not using them much. EVs use regenerative braking like hybrids and plug-in hybrids and capture the kinetic energy typically lost while coasting and braking.
Yes, F1 cars can steer while braking. In fact, steering while braking is a common technique used by F1 drivers to achieve faster lap times. The reason for this is that braking and steering are two separate functions in an F1 car, and they can be controlled independently.
To answer if F1 cars have a clutch, yes, they do, though it is not a traditional pedal like you would see in your road car. The F1 clutch is on the steering wheel and works whenever an F1 driver flicks their shift paddles to change the gear. When that happens, a computer operates the clutch to adjust gears.
Size and Weight:
Depending on the tire size, normal tires weigh about 7-20 kg. F1 tires, which are 18 inches in diameter with a width of 305 mm (front) / 405 mm (rear), weigh between 9.5-11.5 kg. So in addition to their large widths, the weight of an F1 tire is similar to that of a normal passenger car tire.
How much horsepower does an F1 power unit produce? The total power output from the combined petrol and electric elements is around 1,000bhp – significantly higher than a normal road car.
Most of the time. Generally F1 brakes like to be hit hard, the ideal braking process is keep the car straight, brake 100% and then turn in. Braking any less than 100% in most scenarios means your leaving time on the table.
F1 brakes last for about 500 miles. In practice, a new pair of brake discs and pads will be bedded in during the first practice session, then removed and reused as the qualifying or race brakes. Meanwhile, a used set will be fitted for the rest of free practice, which gives the parts a life of just 500 miles.
Depending on how intricate the machined cooling holes are, an F1 brake disc can cost between $2000 (£1420) and $3000 (£2120). The pads are cheaper, coming in at $780 (£550) each.
The distinctive Mercedes Formula 1 front wing endplate design that appeared through much of last year was made illegal by the FIA for 2023. Yet Mercedes has managed to create a similar effect on its new F1 car with a clever interpretation of the modified rules.
Mercedes' design was banned because it was said to be against the spirit of the regulations as it was for aerodynamic purposes. The FIA rules stated that the slot gap separates could only be used “primarily for mechanical, structural, or measurement reasons”.
F1 cars are not equipped with either ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) or traction control. The use of ABS and traction control in F1 racing was banned in 1993, and all F1 cars must comply with the regulations that prohibit their use in the sport.