By BMW Sauber F1 Team
April 6 2007

The Sepang International Circuit features fast turns and two extremely long straights. At the end of these straights, Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel will have to massively decelerate the F1.07. Learn more about the significance of the brakes when it comes to racing at Kuala Lumpur
During the course of a lap at the "Sepang International Circuit" the drivers have to brake eight times. In other words: the Formula One aces use the brake pedal for 16 percent of a lap, with the toughest braking point waiting shortly after the start: At the end of the pit-straight, the field approaches a tight combination of corners at a speed of more than 300 km/h. In order to have the chance of taking the "Pangkor Laut Chicane" safely and quickly, the speed has to be reduced to 90 km/h within 2.7 seconds. While doing so, the drivers have to cope with forces of up to 3.7 g, while brake disc temperatures rise to 960°C.

At turn seven, drivers have to prepare for the hardest deceleration experienced during the entire lap: while decelerating from 280 to 80 km/h, the drivers' bodies are exposed to a load of 3.9 g. This braking manoeuvre takes 2.1 seconds, with the cars covering 105 meters.

Shortly before entering the pit-straight, a further burst of pedal force, up to 120 kg, is necessary to achieve the desired braking effect. The drivers approach a hairpin at 300 km/h and within 2.7 seconds, they have to decelerate by 200 km/h. Again, the brake-disc temperatures rise to 900°C. The drivers then cross the start/finish line to begin the next of a total of 56 laps they will need to complete over the course of the Malaysian Grand Prix.