What Is a Lock-Up in F1? Braking Mistakes Explained

A lock-up happens when a driver brakes so hard that the front wheels stop rotating and skid along the track surface instead of rolling. When this occurs, the tyres screech and smoke, and the driver has significantly less control of the car. Lock-ups flat-spot the tyre — grinding away a section of rubber — which then causes uncomfortable vibrations for the rest of the stint. They are most common when a driver brakes too hard entering a corner or when the brake bias is poorly set.

Example: There’s a big lock-up for Hamilton into turn one — the tyres are completely flat-spotted, that could be a very costly mistake.