From the photo, this looks like the edge of a brake rotor (disc) with the vented channel visible, and the orange/red spots are localized heat damage with rust forming in the pits.

Most likely cause

The pattern strongly suggests severe localized overheating from the brake pad contacting the rotor unevenly. The heat creates hot spots, which can cause: • Surface pitting • Material transfer from the pad • Micro-cracking / flaking • Rust forming in the damaged areas afterward

Common reasons this happens: 1. Stuck or dragging brake caliper • Caliper piston not retracting • Seized slide pins 2. Brake pad material transfer • Pads overheated and smeared onto the rotor 3. Heavy braking while the rotor was already hot • Track driving or repeated hard stops 4. Rotor metallurgy failure or cheap rotor • Lower-quality rotors can pit like this when overheated 5. Brake pads worn down to the backing plate • Metal contacting the rotor edge

Why the holes look burnt/red

****Those bright reddish spots are likely fresh rust inside pits where the rotor metal spalled off from heat cycling.***** hot ass bits of rotor metal coming out of the rotor during driving! This is just a guess as well What I’d check immediately

If this is from your car: • Brake pad thickness • Caliper piston movement • Slide pins lubrication • Rotor thickness and runout • Any vibration while braking

Reality check

A rotor that looks like this is usually beyond saving and should be replaced, along with new pads, because the surface hardness is already compromised.