Would a return to steel discs offer a quick fix for F1 overtaking woes? It would also be more relevant to the auto industry, which is unlikely to adopt carbon discs universally...
Roger Smith, via email
When Alex Zanardi drove for Williams in 1999, he couldn't get used to the carbon discs and pads so he used steel discs. It didn't really do the job for him but what he did show was that it was possible. Patrick Head said he was surprised that the performance on the steel brakes with carbon-metallic pads wasn't too bad.
The carbon discs are the safest option as the thermal shock in the discs when the driver stands on the brake pedal is enormous and steel discs can suffer from this more.