AP Racing Hits 1,000 F1 Races After 59-Year Partnership

When Jim Clark crossed the finish line at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix, his Lotus carried more than just a legendary driver. Hidden behind the wheels were brake components from a Coventry-based company called AP Racing, beginning a partnership with Formula 1 that would last nearly 60 years.

That journey reached a remarkable milestone at the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24, 2026. AP Racing marked its 1,000th Formula 1 race as a component supplier, a feat achieved by staying at the cutting edge of motorsport engineering through six decades of dramatic technological change.

The numbers tell an impressive story. Vehicles running AP Racing brake and clutch systems have won more than 900 Grand Prix races. For the 2026 season alone, eight of the 11 teams on the grid trust their braking systems to the British manufacturer.

What makes this achievement especially meaningful is the consistency required to maintain such a partnership. Formula 1 has transformed completely since 1967, moving from naturally aspirated engines to today's hybrid power units, with countless rule changes in between. AP Racing adapted through every evolution, supplying everything from brake calipers and discs to clutches, pedal boxes, and air jacks.

"Formula 1 is the ultimate test of engineering excellence," said David Hamblin, AP Racing's Managing Director. "Every component must perform under extraordinary pressure and every detail matters."

The Ripple Effect goes far beyond the racetrack. Technologies developed for Formula 1's extreme demands filter down into AP Racing's broader product catalog, eventually improving braking systems for everyday high-performance vehicles. When engineers solve problems at 200 miles per hour, those solutions make regular cars safer and more reliable.

Now part of the Brembo Group, AP Racing uses Formula 1 as a proving ground where components face conditions impossible to replicate in any laboratory. The 2026 season brings new challenges with updated chassis dimensions, aerodynamic profiles, and powertrain configurations that alter how brakes handle heat and mechanical stress across 24 races.

Nearly six decades after that first victory with Jim Clark, AP Racing proves that excellence compounds over time.