IT'S THE FINAL FORMULA 1 ROUND BEFORE A FOUR-WEEK BREAK, DURING WHICH THE TEAMS ALSO HAVE TO OBSERVE A SHUT-DOWN PERIOD OF 14 CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
It's the final Formula 1 round before a four-week break, during which the teams also have to observe a shut-down period of 14 consecutive days. According to Brembo technicians, the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit is a demanding circuit for brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it is rated 4 on the difficulty index.
People rate the Belgian track as the most complete in Formula 1 because in just over 7 km (4.35 miles) it has corners and straights with a range of characteristics. One of its distinctive features is the three braking sections where drivers press down on the brake pedal for at least 2.7 seconds, something not shared by any other track on the calendar.
110 by seven
Despite being the longest track of the Championship, drivers employ their brakes at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit just eight times a lap, and only once in the final five turns. The brake system is in use for 14.5 seconds each lap, amounting to 14 percent of the total duration of the race.
However, for three consecutive turns – from the seventh to the ninth – the drivers need to brake, even though in two of these they are used for less than half a second. The individual loads on the brake pedal are significant, exceeding 110 kg (242.5 lbs.) in seven turns. From the start to the checkered flag, each driver applies a total load of less than 42 metric tons, one of the lowest figures of the Championship, alongside Silverstone.
Less than 213 km/h (132.4 mph) in 3 seconds
Of the eight braking sections in the Belgian GP, four are classified as demanding on the brakes, three are of medium difficulty, and the remaining one is light.
The most challenging braking section is the first turn. The single-seaters arrive at 286 km/h (177.7 mph) and drop to 73 km/h (45.4 mph) in just 128 meters (419.9 feet).
The Formula 1 drivers need to brake for 3.14 seconds, applying a force of 133 kg (293.2 lbs.) on the brake pedal with a deceleration of 4.2 G.
And what about the video games?
Taking on Turn 1 of the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in the Formula 1 video game in the right way is not complicated.
When the wall on the left of the track gives way to the grass, that's when you know that you'll shortly have to activate the brakes.
Move into second gear, keeping wide until the last minute, then turn into the corner: if you turn too early you risk extending the trajectory too far, with the loss of precious time.
•The circuit identity card with all the information on all the braking sections, in .pdf format: https://mediakit.brembo.com/index.php/circuits/f1-2023
•The video can also be consulted at the YT link: https://youtu.be/l5o2kOnA00w
•The comment of the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix according to Brembo, in web format: https://www.brembo.com/en/company/news/2023-formula-1-spa-gp-brembo-brakes
•The video that presents in detail the characteristics of the Brembo braking systems functionality on a Formula 1 single-seater, that you can download at the following link: https://mediakit.brembo.com/index.php/brembo-continues-to-be-the-braking-systems-leader-in-the-2023-formula-1-championship#videos
Photo credit: Brembo
posted on conceptcarz.com
Brembo engineers offer a guide to braking for this weekend's Formula 1 MSC Cruises Belgian Grand Prix to run at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit, July 28-30.
•The video of the hardest braking point of the GP, in mp4 format (low and high resolution): https://we.tl/t-1QkJp3dc6r
posted on conceptcarz.com
