Do Formula One cars have better brakes than series produced cars?
The brakes on series-produced cars are derived from the disc brakes which were first used in racing. All Formula One cars are equipped with brakes with calipers made from light alloy while the discs and pads tend to be made from synthetic materials, e.g. carbon. Their resistance to heat is much greater than that of series-produced brakes (which is why, in certain conditions, the insides of the wheels appear completely incandescent) and they weigh significantly less. Their braking power is very high: at the end of a straight, at maximum speed (around 340 kph – 212.5 mph), a Formula One car can brake at less than 100 meters in order to take a slow corner. 38.
