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Braking

Brake energy recovery, weight transfer, heat management, and the drivers perspective on brake zones.

Step 4of 6· Braking

Core concepts

Key points

F1 brakes are carbon-carbon — they weigh about 1/10th of steel brakes and can handle temperatures exceeding 1000°C. They are the most energy-dense brakes in motorsport.
Braking also charges the hybrid system. Under deceleration, the MGU-K harvests up to 200kW of electrical energy that drivers deploy later for extra power.
Weight transfer during braking shifts load to the front axle — the front brakes do 60-65% of total braking work. Brake balance is adjusted to prevent front lock-ups or rear instability.
From the driver's POV, a typical braking zone involves threshold braking (at the limit of tyre grip), sometimes preceded by lift-and-parse to manage rear stability and charge the battery.

Move straight from this module into the next surface without going back through the landing page.

Move straight from this module into the next surface without going back through the landing page.