How Brembo Brakes Became So Popular in Racing

Brembo made a name for itself by stopping some of the fastest cars.

Ronan Glon | 

Sep 17, 2024 | 3 min read

Dodge

The current Chevrolet Corvette and Ferrari's 1975-championship-winning 312 T Formula 1 race car have at least one thing in common: Brembo brakes. The company began as a family-owned repair shop near Milan, Italy, and went on to become one of the world's largest and most respected suppliers of brake parts.

Ford

Brembo's History

Brembo was founded in 1961 near Bergamo in northern Italy. It was initially a small automotive repair garage but quickly began manufacturing brake rotors by leveraging the metalwork expertise of one of its founders.

The company launched its first line of brake rotors in 1964 and added other brake parts, such as pads, to its catalog soon after. Alfa Romeo was one of its earliest clients, and Italian motorcycle manufacturer Moto Guzzi began fitting Brembo braking parts in 1972.

Working with internationally known companies helped Brembo make a name for itself in the growing pool of parts suppliers. Its rise to prominence caught the eye of another Italian company: Ferrari.

Bugatti

Brembo's Racing Experience

Ferrari asked Brembo to supply its F1 team with brakes in 1975, and the connection benefitted both sides. Ferrari received a dependable and powerful braking system, while Brembo became linked to one of the most successful teams of the 1970s.

Ferrari won the F1 constructors' championship in 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1979, and its drivers won three championships that decade.

Beyond F1, Brembo has also supplied brakes to racing teams in IndyCar and MotoGP, among other series.

Bugatti

Attention to Detail Makes Brembo Brakes Special

With decades of racing experience on its résumé, Brembo has proven it can develop and manufacture brake parts that can withstand the extreme conditions experienced on a track. Its brakes are known for being powerful and dependable. Brembo also runs an in-house design division that makes attractive calipers that blend into a car's design.

Attention to detail has helped position Brembo brakes as a premium alternative to standard systems. The trade-off is that they usually cost more than manufacturer-developed brakes.

Ford

The Cars That Come With Brembo Brakes

Brembo brakes are available on many of the fastest cars on the market. The base 2024 Chevrolet Corvette comes standard with four-piston Brembo front brake calipers, and the more powerful Z06 benefits from six-piston Brembo front calipers.

Several models built by Aston Martin and Ferrari come with Brembo brakes, and the company supplies brakes to every F1 team in 2024. Look behind the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse's 19-inch wheels, and you'll also spot Brembo-branded calipers.

SUVs designed to tow, haul, or both also need great brakes. One of the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban's most expensive options is a pair of red Brembo six-piston front brake calipers priced around $3,800, gripping 16.1-inch rotors. In comparison, the standard braking system includes smaller 13.5-inch front rotors.

Ronan Glon

Ronan Glon is an American journalist and automotive historian based in France. He enjoys working on old cars and spending time outdoors seeking out his next project car.