Mercedes reveals brake issues in Brazil

Mercedes has faced challenges with the brakes at the demanding Sao Paulo Grand Prix, according to Andrew Shovlin, the team’s trackside engineering director.

After taking the lead at the race start, George Russell led the early laps of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix but was affected by a red flag interruption. This resulted in him dropping to P5 after making a pit stop before the race resumed.

Even though he managed to pass Lando Norris after the restart, Russell spent the final part of the 69-lap race following Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, finishing in P4.

Throughout the race, Russell reported brake issues with his W15. Shovlin acknowledged this during the post-race analysis, mentioning that the team will examine the problem at their headquarters.

“We had brake issues, as reported by George. He felt like the brake discs had warped. However, carbon brake discs typically do not warp.

“While they are usually flat, certain surface irregularities can lead to uneven friction, resulting in vibration felt through the pedals. So, even though it may feel like the discs are not round, they usually are when inspected.

“We are unsure why this occurred, and that is what we are currently investigating. The brake discs have been returned to the factory for further examination.”

Shovlin estimated that the problem may have caused Russell to lose three tenths of a second per lap since he had to be cautious under braking.

“Considering other drivers’ feedback, it seems we were not the only ones struggling with brake vibration or grabbing, which George felt was costing him two to three tenths per lap due to the uncertainty of potential locking or vibration during heavy braking.”

The engineer noted that Russell did not experience any issues in dry conditions, indicating that the low temperatures during the race could have contributed to the discomfort with the brakes.

“One aspect was the cold temperatures the brakes were running at. This was in wet conditions.

“Although there are options to adjust the brake ducts, since we had not experienced prolonged wet running prior to the race, we had to estimate the temperatures. It is possible that the very cold temperatures affected the carbon, leading to the issue, which we will investigate. However, the brakes functioned well in dry conditions. There are aspects we need to explore and understand.”

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