Brakes in F1 i.e. Equality?

[Dancin]

Just seen the Sky FP2 coverage.

Wouldn't making every driver use the same brakes bring some sort of equality to the sport.

Interesting Button & Hamilton use different ones, I'd be interested to know what the drivers are using?

[mrmr96]

Why do we need equality in F1?

[TheHeretic]

Agree... If you want equality, watch a one make series. I like that a team can engineer an advantage, or one engine is more powerful than another, or even driver presence for a type of brake is allowed.

[Forbes82]

I believe the brakes are so good that there probably isn't much performance difference between them, more down to the drivers braking talents and techniques than the actual brakes themselves. Drivers tend to choose different ones dependant on what 'feel' they like, so allowing all drivers to choose which they want is probably more equal than specifying they all use one type that could feel great to a driver like Hamilton, but terrible to a driver like Button. Having the range and option to use different ones mean all the drivers are happy.

[Crafty_]

What he said. Its mainly driver preference, slightly different compounds etc.

Raw performance is probably quite similar but if a different setup makes the driver think he can brake later its worth its weight in gold.

F1 isn't really a spec series, if you really wanted to equalise everything make them use a standard floor and front/rear wings. I think it'd ruin the sport though..

[Galveston]

I presume the brakes aren't the limiting factor anyway, i.e. they're all more than powerful enough to exploit the grip generated by the car.

[mrmr96]

Galveston said:

I presume the brakes aren't the limiting factor anyway, i.e. they're all more than powerful enough to exploit the grip generated by the car.

Hmm, even at top speed? Not sure if an F1 car could lock up at top speed you know.

[davepoth]

mrmr96 said:

Galveston said:

I presume the brakes aren't the limiting factor anyway, i.e. they're all more than powerful enough to exploit the grip generated by the car.

Hmm, even at top speed? Not sure if an F1 car could lock up at top speed you know.

The brakes are capable of providing substantially more stopping force than there is traction, even taking downforce into account.

[Nick1point9]

Best make all the wings the same too, the same brakes with more grip won't be equal, so best make sure aero doesn't give anyone an advantage.

If any area of the car can be developed to give an advantage the team should do it. I don't think there has been a driver in history who has felt guilty out braking someone and overtaking them, thinking "it's only because I have better brakes".

[RJB_666]

Back at Brawn in 09 Jenson used Brembos and Rubens used different brakes. Rubens got a lot more competitive that season when he switched over to Brembos.

That's just what happened I personally would have only thought that it would just be driver preference and style.

[Spaghetti]

Dancin said:

Just seen the Sky FP2 coverage.

Wouldn't making every driver use the same brakes bring some sort of equality to the sport.

There is equality. All the brakes have to comply with the same set of rules.

[EDLT]

If there was a measurable difference in performance between different brake manufacturers I can't see the drivers being allowed to pick one that was worse but 'feels better'.

[MissChief]

I remember when Williams tried Alex Zanardi he complained about the brakes and he didn't have any 'feel' he said so they even tried steel brake discs for a while!

[d3dna]

I believe that the BBC noted last year or the year before the two McLarens differing brake discs, it could have been the Singapore race IIRC. David Couthard spoke to the engineers and the feedback from them basically suggested the type of disc was based on driver preference. Jenson prefers the Brembo system as it provides more feedback where as Lewis prefers the Carbon Industry disc.

[Crafty_]

Don't know if they can lock up at speed, but they take a terrific amount of effort to work, I can remember Brundle trying out a Red Bull - may of been a sim ? anyway, he was putting in excess of 40kg pressure on the brake pedal and the team told him Webber is up around 90kg.. imagine whackinh the brake pedal that hard for a lap, now imagine doing 60 of em!