How to Understand Lock-Ups in Formula 1 Racing? Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

• by Dr. AK Rana

Lock-ups are becoming a familiar sight at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. With Jeddah’s ultra-fast layout peppered with heavy braking zones, even the best drivers in the world struggle to keep all four wheels rolling cleanly.

Kimi Antonelli, a rising talent, faced the same issue in Bahrain—and it carried over to Jeddah. But he’s not alone.

In the recent practice sessions, even seasoned campaigners like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc found themselves locking up into tight corners.

Lock-ups aren’t just harmless tire squeals. They affect lap times, compromise tire health, and in the worst cases, can cost positions or cause crashes.

Luckily, that’s exactly what practice sessions are for: dial in the setup, identify issues, and fix them before Saturday’s qualifying or the race.

But how do teams and drivers tackle lock-ups?

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The Physics of a Lock-Up

A lock-up happens when the brakes apply more force than the tire can handle, causing the wheel to stop rotating while the car is still moving forward.

It’s like trying to stop a spinning basketball by slamming your hand down too hard—you’ll stop the rotation, but the ball skids.

The problem?

F1 cars don’t have ABS. Drivers must modulate braking manually.

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Why Jeddah Is a Lock-Up Magnet? Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit combines two deadly ingredients for braking stability:

High-speed straights, followed by

Tight, technical corners

For example:

Turn 1 comes right after the main straight, demanding near-maximum braking.

Turn 13 is a long, slightly banked left-hander where trail braking can upset the balance.

Turn 27 is another hard-brake zone where drivers often dive in hot, risking front-wheel lock.

Add a low-grip street surface, cooler night conditions, and narrow margins for error—and you’ve got a recipe for frequent lock-ups.

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Techniques to Prevent Lock-Up:

Here’s where engineering, physics, and driver skill come together:

1. Brake Bias Adjustment

Drivers can shift the balance of braking force between the front and rear wheels using controls on the steering wheel.

More front bias = more front braking force (but risk of front-wheel lock)

More rear bias = vice versa (can cause rear-end instability)

They tweak this corner-by-corner based on data and feel.

2. Brake Migration

An advanced system where the brake bias automatically shifts during braking, depending on how much pedal pressure the driver applies.

It reduces lock-up by matching the bias with weight transfer.

3. Tire and Brake Warm-Up

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Cold tires = less grip = more lock-ups.

Same goes for brakes. Carbon brakes don’t work well until they’re around 400°C+.

Drivers often weave and brake heavily on out-laps to warm everything up.

4. Driver Technique- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is all about high-speed commitment and precise braking. It’s not just about raw speed—it’s about mastering the transition from 300+ km/h down to 80 km/h in a heartbeat.

Here’s how elite drivers manage that:

1. Smooth Brake Application – No “Stabbing” the Brakes

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Sudden, aggressive brake input increases the chance of a lock-up, especially when tires aren’t fully up to temp or when the car is unsettled.

In Jeddah, where braking zones are short and sharp (like into Turn 1 or Turn 27), drivers need progressive brake pressure—building force gradually to let the tire load up instead of locking instantly.

2. Braking in a Straight Line – Before the Turn

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Corners like Turn 1 and Turn 13 invite late braking, but the trick is to complete most of the braking before the car starts turning.

Lock-ups often happen when drivers try to slow down while steering—this is known as trail braking. It’s useful but risky in Jeddah due to low grip and wall proximity. Top drivers balance it carefully.

3. Modulating Brake Pressure Mid-Corner – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

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When drivers feel the tires about to lock (especially the front left in right-hand corners), they release pressure slightly—a technique called cadence braking.

4.  Line Optimization

Drivers tweak their racing lines slightly during practice—not always aiming for the textbook apex, but instead choosing lines that reduce braking load.

For example, a wider entry into Turn 1 allows a smoother brake release and better control, reducing lock-up chances.

Putting It All Together:

In a place like Jeddah: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The driver needs to balance aggression with smoothness.

The car needs to be composed under sudden deceleration, with the setup finely tuned to avoid tire overload.

Both must work in harmony to avoid lock-ups—not just for speed, but for confidence and consistency.

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also read How to Prepare F1 Tyres for the Perfect Race Start? Physics explained