Leclerc to trial dropping Brembo brake discs for Barcelona
Charles Leclerc has committed to trying out the Carbone Industrie brake discs that Lewis Hamilton has used over recent races, in his bid to try to get more confidence from his Ferrari.
The Monegasque driver has struggled over recent races with a lack of feeling from the braking configuration he has used throughout 2026.
Speaking after his late race exit from the Monaco GP, where cold brakes triggered a crash into the wall after a safety car restart, Leclerc explained that he has been suffering a lot over recent races.
“Here and in Montreal with cold tyre temperatures, the inconsistency, and tyres being more sensitive because you are on the limit, have just been an absolute nightmare,” he said.
Leclerc explained that a solution to his woes was already in hand as he talked about shifting to a set-up that Hamilton has used.
“I'll go to Lewis’s configuration from the next race onwards, which hopefully will be a step,” he said.
While Leclerc did not offer any specifics on what the configuration was, The Race understands that this relates to a change of brake disc – away from Brembo and switching to Carbone Industrie.
While retaining Brembo calipers and other parts, the disc shift is about seeking different characteristics from the brakes – something that Hamilton has been particularly sensitive to since he joined the team.
The challenge of brake systems in 2026 has been transformed because of the new hybrid engines, which mean teams are harvesting a lot more than before and not relying on traditional braking forces as much – which means discs can suffer from being too cold.
Ahead of the Barcelona Grand Prix, Leclerc’s Ferrari was spotted being built up with the same braking configuration as Hamilton.
The differences in behaviour between CI and Brembo are subtle but come in an area where drivers can find a lot of performance.
It is widely understood that CI’s discs have a very strong initial bite, which comes from a characteristic where it appears to offer peak grip at higher temperatures.
Brembo’s products are understood to be more progressive and consistent throughout the whole braking phase and temperature range, so they operate strongly in both hot and cold conditions and are more durable through an entire race.
While the choice of Leclerc and Hamilton to run Carbon Industrie discs has grabbed attention, it is not unusual for drivers in F1 to switch suppliers of specific brake components like this.
Back in 2024, for example, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen first tested and then switched from Carbone Industrie to Brembo because he preferred the feel of the discs. Decisions like this are often down to driver preference.
It is understood that while Brembo has a deal to supply its products to every team on the grid, all competitors have autonomy to select and change specific technical components based on their own preferences.
Brembo continues to enjoy a strong technical relationship with Ferrari – and its supplying of calipers, brake master cylinders, braking systems, and suspension solutions is unchanged.
