Mercedes are going to have to find a technical solution to the porpoising problems blighting their season rather than waiting for motorsport governing body the FIA to regulate against the phenomenon, according to Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle.
Porpoising is the name given to the aerodynamic quirk whereby this season’s F1 cars are suffering from intense bouncing at high speeds on long straights. The effect has a physical impact on drivers, with severe loads sent up their spines causing their heads to ricochet violently back and forth in the cockpit.
The issue has been caused by F1’s return to ground effect aerodynamics for the first time since the 1980s, and is a result of air being pushed rapidly back and forth under the floor of the car.
Some teams, including championship leaders Red Bull, have been able to mitigate its effects. But Mercedes are struggling more than most others, and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton struggled to leave his car after the chequered flag at the end of last Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the 37-year-old suffering from severe back pain caused by bouncing.
Drivers including Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly have called on the FIA to find a quick solution to the problem on the grounds of health and safety, but other teams are reluctant to have the performance compromised.
‘If it was something that was affecting everybody, then yes, [the regulations should change] on the grounds of safety, but you can see that some cars are absolutely fine, and others are struggling,’ Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports F1.
‘Therefore, I think the emphasis is on the team to sort it out as opposed to changing the regulations. It’s something that they’re struggling with, it’s not something that our drivers are complaining about. I think it would be unfair if there was a change just because they’ve missed the target.’
Former McLaren and Benetton driver Brundle took a similar view to Horner, and says Mercedes should concentrate on solving the issue themselves rather than waiting for the FIA to step in.
‘The teams that have got it sorted are clearly saying that’s Mercedes’ problem and it’s not Formula 1’s problem,’ Brundle told Sky Sports News. ‘There’s no doubt about it, it looks particularly uncomfortable. Of course, [Mercedes] can fix it by raising the car but then they lose a huge amount of performance.
‘So, they need to get the car low, stiff on the suspension and stiff on the side wall of the new tyres as well, and they’ve had to sacrifice comfort for performance. What’s surprising, really, is that Mercedes just can’t seem to get a handle on what looks like, actually, quite an excellent car, if they could just unlock it.’
Mercedes have been the fastest team in Formula 1 every season since 2014, and Brundle believes the other nine teams would be daft to vote through a regulation change which would help the Brackley-based squad back to the front of the grid.
‘To ask the other teams to change the regulations to help Mercedes, is a bit like asking a turkey to vote for Christmas. I’m not underplaying what George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are going through, because it does look particularly painful.’
The ninth round of the 2022 F1 season will take place this weekend in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Ferrari boss claims his team are being unfairly targeted by F1 race directors
Hamilton slammed as ‘pantomime dame’ by former F1 driver over Azerbaijan back injury
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
