Formula 1 Drivers Ask For Help To Solve F1' s Biggest Problem CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home News Formula 1 Drivers Ask For Help To Solve F1' s Biggest Problem

Formula 1 Drivers Ask For Help To Solve F1' s Biggest Problem

Jun. 15, 2022 8:53 AM ET by Chase Bierenkoven Formula One / 18 Comments Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and others have said their bodies can't take much more. For Ferrari fans, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a brutal race. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz did not finish despite a strong performance in qualifying. But for many drivers, their finishing position wasn't their primary concern. Footage was shown after the race of Lewis Hamilton climbing, or rather struggling to climb, out of his Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 car. Despite the issues surrounding porpoising, Red Bull continues to dominate this season. "Sore, that was the most painful race I've experienced, the toughest race I've experienced," said Hamilton. Lewis also said he didn't know if he would make it. The current rumors suggest that he might not even race this weekend in Canada. Hamilton isn't the only driver that has raised concerns about "porpoising," which is an aerodynamic issue that causes a rapid bouncing motion while the car is out on track. Mercedes-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz AG George Russell, Hamilton's teammate, also said he could barely see the braking zones when the cars are on track because of the violent bouncing. While Merc isn't the only one suffering from it, the team has long been the prime example of porpoising's adverse effects on both driver's health and the car's performance. You'd think the company that brought the Mercedes-AMG ONE to the streets would have a handle on this, but the team continues to struggle with the issue. Still, it raises both safety and health concerns. Daniel Ricciardo likened the experience to feeling like a dribbling basketball. The only driver not bothered by the problem is Fernando Alonso, who reckons his body is fit enough to take the hammering. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has urged the FIA to take action on porpoising. Sainz said that if the FIA doesn't act, issues with porpoising will start piling up. It's not hard to imagine a driver missing a braking zone and crashing due to the problem, or worse, a driver suffering from long-term back issues. Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool A report from 1996 by F1 race doctor Sid Watkins detailed the issue rather well. "Because of the vertical forces in the spine, disc protrusion is more likely to occur," stated the report. Watkins' report concerned the incredibly stiff suspension in the cars at that time, but these findings are highly relevant to porpoising. The report goes on to state that vibration is also a problem. "The spine receives vertical loading as the result of the car bumping. This compresses and decompresses the intervertebral discs in the spine. At the worst, this could result in herniated discs in some drivers." Red Bull's Christain Horner has said the FIA shouldn't change the rules to combat porpoising, but the issue will likely continue to affect the health and safety of drivers until it is addressed. While porpoising is a real issue, one has to include a counterargument. Red Bull has managed to mitigate the effects of porpoising, which currently gives them a great advantage. Changing the rules would be a disservice to RB's engineers, and a huge favor to engineers who can't figure it out. Mercedes-Benz AG Scuderia Ferrari Press Office Mercedes-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz AG

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Mercedes-AMG ONE Chase Bierenkoven Associate Editor Shortly before applying to law school, Chase decided to take a chance on pursuing his dream job: playing with cars and getting paid for it. Law school was just a means to an end, after all. His first writing job was freelance and barely paid his grocery bill. It quickly turned into a full-time position, eventually leading Chase to join CarBuzz in 2022. Chase now tests cars, and sits comfortably at the news desk when he's not in the driver's seat. In his spare time, Chase can be heard trying to play guitar, or out enjoying Colorado's natural splendor in his BMW M3. Contact Chase @bierenkoven @cbier823 LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top