There is only one way to stop sooner than modern F1s do: take a wall. Yes, because thanks to the new regulation this year Formula One will make it possible to mount larger brake discs than in the past, which will fill the space created thanks to the increase in the diameter of the rims from 13 “to 18”.
How an F1 brakes at 340 times
The result? Record-breaking braking, even if the higher weight of the cars and the different aerodynamics will eventually compensate for this large increase in braking surface. Just one figure to understand the matter: at the Bahrain GP, the first round of the season, at turn one the single-seaters go from 328 to 80 km / h in 2.9 seconds with a deceleration of 4.6 g: a normal driver would faint with this solicitation. But the “braking” (the moment when braking is called in jargon) is a maneuver that is repeated for 57 laps, not to mention that on the same track there are another 8 braking sections exceeding 3g: in short, an F1 driver with each lap has to withstand something like 32 g …
The new F1 braking systems without secrets
To understand how all this is possible, we went to ask Brembo for guidance, which in 47 Formula 1 seasons has won 27 drivers ‘world championships, 31 constructors’ world championships and 463 Grand Prix. And it is no coincidence that its brakes are used by most of the single-seaters between hydraulic material (calipers, pumps and by-wire units) and friction components (carbon discs and pads).
The news
“Our brakes – explain the Brembo technicians – will play a fundamental role in 2022: in the study phase of the new braking systems for Formula 1 single-seaters, the designers of the Brembo group had to work on unprecedented geometries under the new regulations, with maximum attention to performance to be sought within the new limits imposed by the Federation. In fact, the external diameter of the Brembo carbon discs goes from 278 mm to a maximum of 328 mm – for the front axle – with an unchanged maximum thickness that remains at 32 mm, while it goes from 266 mm to 280 mm for the rear axle. , with the thickness going from 28 to 32 mm. By virtue of the increase in the effective radius, Brembo had to revise, in addition to the architecture of the discs themselves, also the geometry of the calipers and pads “.
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But what other changes have been made? “Another important change – they tell the Brembo team that follows F1 – also involved the components of the wheel corner such as the air intakes and baskets which will be“ prescribed components ”, ie the same for all cars. This choice has therefore limited the possibility of using these components to increase the aerodynamic load, placing the cooling of the braking system at the center of its function. The architecture of the brake discs will also be modified following some regulatory requirements. Compared to discs that up to 2021 had a maximum number of 1,480 holes with a diameter of 2.5 mm, in 2022 the discs will have between 1,000 and 1,100 holes for the front, while at the rear, compared to the 1,050 holes in the discs used in 2021, we pass to around 900 holes “.
The new regulation will in fact limit the drilling diameter, imposing a minimum diameter of 3 mm, while there was no limit for 2021. This means that for the same disc thickness between 2021 and 2022 there will be larger and fewer holes. , thus reducing the possibility of cooling. As for the pads, in 2022 Brembo will offer teams a choice between two different compounds, while, according to the regulations, perforated pads are prohibited. Finally, with reference to mass, the 2022 complete braking system increases by approximately 700 grams per wheel, leading to an increase in the mass of the single-seaters of almost 3 kg overall compared to 2021.
Domination in F1
The world leader in the technology of disc braking systems for vehicles is however proud of another aspect: Brembo for 2022 – for the first time in 47 world championships run from 1975 to today – becomes in fact the sole supplier because its calipers will go to all 10 teams: specifically, 9 teams will be supplied with Brembo calipers while one team will be supplied with AP Racing calipers, a company based in Coventry but which belongs to the Bergamo-based company. Brembo will therefore provide all 20 riders with new 6-piston calipers, which is the maximum value established by the regulations, in billet and nickel-plated aluminum alloy. On the other hand, five teams will mount by-wire units developed by Brembo and AP Racing in the car, which aim to manage rear braking, instantly varying the contribution of dissipative braking according to the regenerative contribution and ensuring the correct balance. between front axle and rear axle.
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The customization of the system
You know, tuning is fundamental in an F1. For this reason, each team, in collaboration with Brembo engineers, asked for particular specifications. “The sophisticated design methodologies – say the technicians – at Brembo’s disposal made it possible to design, for each team, a brake caliper model that made it possible to optimize the desired weight-stiffness ratio. In this scenario, some teams will prefer lighter but also less rigid calipers, while others will opt for stiffer, but heavier solutions. A delicate balance that leads Brembo to develop dedicated solutions for the braking system of each single-seater. Using sensors in the wheel corners, the teams will be able to know the temperature of the discs and calipers at any time. On the basis of the data collected, the team engineers will be able to support the driver in optimally managing the braking balance of the car ”.
The new F1 rules
It is not only in the braking systems that the regulation of the new F1 cars has imposed changes: the most significant novelty is certainly in the less visible part of the single-seaters, namely the bottom, which loses the step and will be characterized by two Venturi channels with the aim to recreate the ground effect and reduce turbulence in the wake, favoring overtaking. In general, all the aerodynamics designed to generate downforce have undergone a cut compared to 2021: behind the front wheels the flow deflectors have been eliminated, while the wings have been simplified and have a renewed aesthetic appearance.
Important news also for tires that become low-shoulder, with the passage of the diameter of the rims from 13 ” to 18 ” on which the wheel covers will be mounted. Stiffer tires therefore, more similar to those of road supercars. The new regulations introduced and the reduced tire shoulder forced the teams to review the suspension design. Not only that: in order to contain costs, project developments had to take into account the limitations of the budget cap, imposed by the 2022 regulation, which drops from 145 million dollars of expenditure per team set in the 2021 championship to the current 140 million dollars. . This is why the single-seaters today are heavier than those of 2021, with a total mass that goes from 752 kg to 795 kg and, given the combined effect of the new aerodynamics, the drivers will probably have to anticipate the braking starting point compared to the past. .