Brembo Brakes - 1,000 Braking Sections at the Monaco GP
Nearly one fourth of the time is spent braking
DETROIT, (May 24, 2018) - The Circuit de Monaco will host the sixth race of the 2018 World Formula 1 Championship this weekend, May 24 to 27.
The track that winds through the streets of the principality of Monaco has hosted the most advanced single-seaters in the world without interruption since 1955, although the first Formula 1 Grand Prix was held here in 1950.
Brembo brake facts video for Monaco link.
The proximity of the Armco barriers mandates that drivers perform with utmost precision, braking incorrectly, even by just one yard, could result in crashing into the guardrail and withdrawing from the race. For this reason, the braking systems have to work well all the way to the checkered flag. It isn't an easy task because each car is required to brake about 950 times during the GP.
Monaco is one of those tracks that stands out for a high aerodynamic load and a significant percentage of time spent braking, but these braking sections are not particularly intense. In spite of braking sections that are on average only slightly intense, this track is nonetheless demanding on the brakes, especially because of the high temperatures reached by the calipers and brake fluid.
In the past, the temperatures of the calipers and brake fluid reached exceptionally high levels, in some cases causing vapor lock when the liquid inside the caliper boils over. This led to increased pedal travel, which caused the brakes to respond more slowly.
Now, the work done by Brembo technicians to cool the brakes has alleviated those problems and the increase in the number of ventilation holes, to offer extra security.
According to Brembo technicians, who classified the 20 tracks in the World Championship, the Circuit de Monaco falls into the category of circuits presenting medium difficulty for the brakes.
The demand on the brakes during the GP
Monaco is the shortest track in the World Championship, measuring only 2.07 miles, and yet it has the most braking sections per lap, there are 12, five more than Montreal, which is considered one of the most demanding tracks for the braking systems.
The effort required of the brakes is not directly correlated to the number of braking sections, nor to the time spent braking. On the Monaco circuit, the drivers use their brakes for 15 seconds every lap, which totals 21percent of the overall duration of the race and is the record for the World Championship.
Since the stretches are not very fast, with the partial exception as the cars exit the tunnel and the Mirabeau, the braking never exceeds 1.9 seconds. And there are three corners where the peak deceleration doesn't even reach 3 G. That translates into an average deceleration of 3.8 G, which is exactly one point lower than that registered at Sochi.
The numerous braking sections means the amount of energy each car dissipates in braking over the entire course of the GP is really high, 190 kWh.
From the starting line to the checkered flag, the Brembo technicians forecast that each driver will apply a load of 106 tons on the brake pedal, which is the same as the total weight of 84 Ferrari La Ferrari cars. In other words, the drivers will be required to apply a force of more than 1.32 Ton on the brake pedal every minute of the race.
The most demanding braking sections
Of the 12 braking sections at the Circuit de Monaco, only one is classified as demanding on the brakes, five are of medium difficulty and six are light.
The most difficult braking section is after the tunnel (turn 10): the single-seaters arrive going 177 mph and brake for less than 2 seconds (1.80 seconds to be precise) to decelerate to 58.4 mph. They manage to do so in just 54.6 yards, which is barely more than half of the length of the Stade Louis II soccer field. At this point, the drivers undergo a deceleration of 4.7 G and have to apply a load of 317.4 lbs. on the brake lever.
At Mirabeau (turn 5) on the other hand, the speed drops down from 144 mph to 51.5 mph, but the single-seaters brake for 1.83 seconds and travel 42.6yards. The load on the pedal (300 lbs.) and the deceleration (4.5 G) are lower though.
The maximum speed over all (178 mph) is reached after the straightaway at the starting line, S.te Devote: the corner isn't very sharp so the cars can take it at 76.4 mph, braking for just 1.52 seconds.
Brembo performance
This track was where Brembo brakes achieved their first victory in Formula 1: credit goes to Niki Lauda and the Ferrari 312T, the first to use Brembo brake discs in 1975. Single-seaters with Brembo brakes have won 25 of the 43 Monaco GP races they took part in, including the last nine. Ayrton Senna was the winner six times at Monaco, always driving cars equipped with Brembo brakes.
About Brembo SpA
Brembo SpA is the world leader and acknowledged innovator of disc brake technology for automotive vehicles. Brembo supplies high performance brake systems for the most important manufacturers of cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes worldwide,as well as clutches and other components for racing. Brembo is also a leader in the racing sector and has won more than 300 championships. Today the company operates in 15 countries on 3 continents, with 23 production and business sites, and a pool of over 9,800 employees, about 10% of whom are engineers and product specialists active in the R&D. 2017 turnover is € 2,463.6 million (12.31.2017). Brembo is the owner of the Brembo, Breco, AP, Bybre, and Marchesini brands and operates through the AP Racing brand.
Brembo Media Contacts:
Caroline Fallara Kyle Chura
Communications Manager Brembo Media Consultant
Brembo North America, Inc. +1 248 821 0468
+1 734 468 2109 kyle@kcapr.com
cfallara@brembo.com
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