Best Driver on the Brakes

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ISLAMATRON
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Joined: 01 Oct 2008, 18:29

Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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Exactly Metar! Overtaking is, like rebounding in basketball, more about positioning than it is about late braking, or jumping high.

Hamilton is undoubtedly a great passer, on the brakes or out of a corner.

But purely in terms of braking, lets say an all out qualifying lap, how does he compare to his F1 counterparts.

Really truly we can only fairly compare him to 2 other F1 drivers(well maybe 4)

Vs Alonso & Heikki at McMerc

Vs Fisi in GP2... mainly equal team

vs Sutil in F3000... same team

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Birel99
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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Just because a driver can brake the latest does not equal the fastest lap times. Braking is a huge variable driving style.

If the goal is to overtake another car under braking then we can compare drivers.

How can we compare Lewis to Fisi in GP2?

Giblet
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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I think he means Piquet, as he outpassed him when it matters in GP2.

I can understand getting those two Renault drivers mixed up, as their roles are similar, 2nd fiddle to Alonso under Flav's big blue sweaty mumbling umbrella.
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ISLAMATRON
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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yes i did mean NP Jr, thanks for the correction Giblet.

So what is the best way to characterize "optimal braking"?

the average speed from the instant the brakes are engaged until the driver goes full throttle?

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Metar
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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That'd be too dependant on the trajectory taken through the corner...

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Scuderia_Russ
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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Ciro Pabón wrote: Everything depends on downforce. I'll use this graph (thanks to Reca, made with Bosch LapSim)
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mariano
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Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 18:11

Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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Very interesting topic!

On many editions of F1 Racing, for example, it has been commented that Mika Hakkinen used a straight braking line, while the majority (as for Michael Schumacher) didn´t. The finnish technique had the advantage of braking always at the same point without locking tyres, but carrying much less speed into the corners. That could be a good point on tracks like Monaco, with shorts straights and many corners, but not the better method for circuits with long straights and braking zones, like Italy, Brazil and Bahrein.

mariano
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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Hamilton is completely the opposite.

mariano
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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Looking from above (like a helicopter camera), Mika used to take the U shape trajectory, while Michael, Rubens, David Coulthard, Kimi, Lewis, Sebastian, Fernando, Jarno, Mark and many others use a V shape.

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flynfrog
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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you bumped a 2009 thread for this?

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SectorOne
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Re: Best Driver on the Brakes

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This is Brembo´s take on the braking differences between various drivers. Fascinating stuff.

To date, Brembo cannot remember a driver who has used such a high hydraulic ratio as the one used by Ayrton Senna. He was a truly sensational champion and one of the first drivers to understand the importance of the technological evolution of the brakes.

The Brazilian adored using smaller master cylinders for improved performance and increased system efficiency. Moreover he was one of the few, if not the only one, who personally tested technological development of systems – from calipers with four pads to aluminium alloys that ensured increased stiffness (and power) of the system.
The German has been the most mentally organised racer Brembo technicians have worked with over the years: determined and consistent in his lap times. He demanded the braking system matched his performance.

Schumacher opted for a short and very responsive brake pedal. Although not a giant he was able to exert significant force on the pedal. The search for perfection was one of Schumi's greatest qualities: he wanted the brakes to work continuously without any sign of fading for the duration of the GP race.
The aggressive and extreme driving of the former snowmobile racer had its impact on the braking system fitted on the Ferraris he used to drive…

The oldest Brembo technicians still remember – as a sort of nightmare – how Villeneuve knew how to abuse his brakes properly, with his extremely aggressive style.
Alain Prost, one of Ayrton Senna's biggest rivals, had a very different driving and braking style compared to Senna's. He was less aggressive towards his single seater and the braking system.

His accuracy and clean style meant he did not stress the pedal. That's why the Frenchman didn't have any particular requests for Brembo engineers. He didn't want short nor particularly sturdy pedals, neither did he ever bring the system to extreme levels.

This doesn't mean Alain wasn't concerned about brakes: he would continuously ask the engineers to prepare perfect configurations and a system that would be reliable under every condition.
According to the Brembo technicians who worked with him to configure the braking system, Vettel is a junior Schumi because he significantly contributes towards vehicle development.

Moreover he is able to pick up the subtlest differences in friction material: currently he is the only driver competing in Formula 1 who can prefer one particular set of brakes over another due to different types of carbon.

He loves starting qualifying laps with a new set of brakes to achieve that extra grip he is able to exploit while attempting the best time for a single lap. He works in perfect harmony with his tyres and opts for a short and extremely reactive pedal. Despite not being particularly heavy built, he is able to apply significant force on the brake pedal.
Alonso, like other champions, is extremely meticulous when it comes to finding the perfect feeling with the braking system. His explosive strength meant he can apply maximum force on the pedal with impressive response times.

His power in terms of physical strength contrasts with his very clean braking technique; he often reaches the limit without exceeding it in a wide range of grip conditions.

It is as if Alonso has been able to create a kind of natural ABS – fully exploiting tyre grip to achieve greater speeds while turning without locking the wheels.
The British Mercedes driver enjoys an entirely unique feeling with his car; he wants it to focus entirely on the front axle. His aggressive driving style means he often locks the wheels.

Lewis is extremely reactive when he starts to brake; he then often exceeds tyre grip limits and only then, after exerting peak pressure on the pedal, begins to control the action of the braking system.

The English driver wants perfect control when entering a corner, often releasing the throttle once in the turn. In fact, the first part of braking ends upon entering the corner, thus reducing the footprint and increasing the likelihood of the inside front wheel locking.

The only limit that Hamilton knows, according to the engineers he works with, is the maximum temperature of brakes. However, it is his way of driving beyond any physical limit that ensures a truly spectacular and result-producing racing style.
"If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward, then brother that person is a piece of sh*t"

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