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Key F1 Supplier Gaining Ground as New Challenge Intensifies
Highlights
- Brembo faces challenges meeting current and 2027 F1 brake rules.
- Energy balance changes to 58:42 in 2027, then 60:40 in 2028.
- Brembo’s R&D and testing centralized near Bergamo, Italy.
- Brake design complexity increases due to shifting powertrain energy ratios.
- Testing overlaps production to meet tight Formula 1 deadlines.
- Close team collaboration accelerates brake component development cycle.
Formula 1’s new technical cycle intensifies demands on Brembo, the exclusive brake supplier, which must meet 2026 needs while preparing a redesigned system for 2027 under shifting powertrain rules.
The company centralizes research, development, and testing near Bergamo, Italy, to compress timelines and manage risk as energy distribution between combustion and electric systems evolves.
Race engineer Andrea Dellavedova says current-season learning only partly transfers. He accepts next year’s step changes mean a fresh approach to 2027 component sizing, materials, and control strategies.
“What we learned this year won’t fully apply to the new braking system we must design for 2027.” — Andrea Dellavedova
The FIA confirms the energy balance shifts to 58:42 in 2027, then 60:40 in 2028, resetting brake duty, thermal loads, and regen blending targets across circuits.
Energy balance moves to 58:42 in 2027 and 60:40 in 2028, fundamentally changing braking requirements.
Long lead times compound the challenge. Carbon discs undergo multi-stage oven curing, while calipers demand tight machining tolerances and exhaustive rig validation before track allocation.
Brembo sometimes overlaps testing with manufacturing to protect deadlines without compromising reliability.
To hit deadlines, Brembo overlaps manufacturing with testing when required, using established quality gates to protect reliability without stalling delivery schedules.
Operations center on the Kilometro Rosso science park, with racing development at nearby Curno, enabling rapid toolchain access from design to instrumented dyno benches.
Specialized rigs run almost continuously, screening materials, geometries, and ventilation strategies. Co-location shortens the loop from CAD to hardware, and from data to iteration.
Ambient conditions amplify braking stress. The conversation around cooling compromises intensified after the recent FIA heat warning at the Italian GP, influencing setup margins and race containment strategies.
Team concepts and energy deployment profiles vary, affecting duct sizes, pad wear, and management windows. McLaren’s form illustrates evolving trade-offs across the calendar and season challenge narratives.
Those trade-offs also color strategy debates, from lift-and-coast thresholds to brake-by-wire mapping, as reflected in wider F1 fans’ strategy discussions this year.
Competitive volatility elsewhere, including Red Bull’s fluctuating challenge, underlines why consistent braking performance remains a decisive reference for teams.
Dellavedova expects timing and performance targets to be met. The integrated model accelerates iteration, positioning Brembo to transition cleanly through the 2027–2028 regulation steps.
Visual Summary
💨
2024
⚡
2027
58:42
Energy
58:42
Energy
⏳
2028
NOW
⚡
24/7 R&D
on current brakes
24/7 R&D
on current brakes
Constant evolution for every GP
2027+ (new era)
🔧
Rethinking everything
for future F1 rules
Rethinking everything
for future F1 rules
Energy balance shifts, new development race begins
Carbon brake discs: up to 8 weeks to make – no shortcuts!
In the heart of Italy’s innovation hub, engineers race the clock.
With every lap and rule change, Brembo powers F1’s never-ending brake revolution.
2024—and already testing for 2027.
Future battles are being won—in the lab, right now.
With every lap and rule change, Brembo powers F1’s never-ending brake revolution.
2024—and already testing for 2027.
Future battles are being won—in the lab, right now.
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
