The Formula 1 season reaches its 21st round with the São Paulo GP, successor to the Brazilian GP, which has seen 47 editions. After two years missed due to Covid-19, the GP took on the name of Brazil’s most populous city, also home to the track, aiming to promote it worldwide. According to its mayor, the GP brings São Paulo over 240 million euros in additional revenue each year.
GP Data
According to Brembo technicians, the 4.309-kilometer Autódromo José Carlos Pace falls under the category of moderately demanding circuits for brakes. On a scale from 1 to 5, it has a difficulty rating of 3 due to its relatively short straights and only 5 braking zones per lap, totaling just over 10.5 seconds. Two of these braking events require less than 2 seconds of brake usage, while two others involve deceleration below 3.8 g.
Two Types of Brake Discs
This year, Formula 1 teams are using two types of Brembo carbon discs: “wide spline” and “single sided spline.” In the “wide spline” version, the carrier thickness—the part in contact with the bell—is equal to the disc thickness, whereas in the “single sided spline” version, the carrier thickness is less than the disc thickness.
This second option allows a different ventilation strategy for the disc and improved wheel corner packaging, though it compromises mechanical stress resistance on the carbon, limiting potential perforation for ventilation. The choice between the two versions depends on each car’s specific design and track characteristics.
The Toughest Turn
The most challenging turn for the braking system at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace is the first corner. Cars enter at 337 km/h and decelerate to 124 km/h in 2.41 seconds, covering 130 meters. Drivers face a load of 4.6 g, applying 139 kg of force on the brake pedal. The braking power reaches 2,486 kW.
Number 1
Brembo made its Formula 1 debut in 1975, providing cast-iron discs to Scuderia Ferrari, which won the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles that year after an 11-year drought. The 1976 championship opened the fourth weekend of January with the Brazilian GP. As defending champion, Niki Lauda displayed the number one on his Ferrari 312T and honored it with an 18-second victory at Interlagos after taking the lead on lap nine.
Magic’s Car
The São Paulo GP pays tribute to Ayrton Senna, who passed away 30 years ago, with a series of homages. In collaboration with Honda, McLaren will showcase the MP4/5B, equipped with Brembo calipers, with which the Brazilian won the 1990 World Championship. The car will do a lap of the track, though it is not yet known who will have the privilege of driving it. Senna personally advocated for Brembo brakes with the English team, having tested them successfully with Lotus.
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