Haas team director Guenther Steiner says the FIA’s attempt to reduce porpoise in Formula 1 cars could drastically change the competitive order of the championship.
The governing body of sport has confirmed today that it has issued a technical directive to teams outlining its plans to combat porpoise and the serious rebounds that have led to complaints from a growing number of riders in recent weeks.
Teams have been informed that the floors of their cars will be subjected to more detailed inspections during this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. The FIA also plans to impose a limit on the severity of the vertical movements to which drivers are subjected.
Steiner admitted that the problem must be addressed, but insisted that the affected teams could improve the ride quality of their cars if they did not do them as low as they have.
“We have to measure what it is,” he said. “And I think some of the cars are pretty bad.
“But then there’s a solution, just increase the height of the vehicle. But then you go slow. Who wants to go slow?”
Mid-season changes to technical rules and standard equipment have been controversial in the past, he noted. “It’s like, I don’t know how many years ago, when we changed tires in the middle of the season,” Steiner said. “Something like this, you change something fundamentally, you can change the hierarchical order completely again. Is that really fair?”
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Steiner believes the FIA should restrict the severity of the rebound that is allowed, rather than forcing teams to change their designs.
Report: Montreal “will hurt” 2022 rigid cars say drivers expect a bounce solution “Yes, it’s a safety factor, but it could also be addressed. If it’s too dangerous, just increase the height of the vehicle.
“I think the measure of this is to find a way where, if it’s dangerous, without changing the rules, find a limit to something and say if you’re above that threshold. [you get a penalty]. I don’t know what penalty you could put, I still have no idea, I didn’t look at it so well and all this is very fresh “.
Mercedes has had a hard time controlling the porpoise of her car and her drivers have talked especially about the inconvenience they have experienced. However, Steiner does not believe that the team has successfully pressured the FIA to introduce a rule change for which they have already prepared.
“You know how malicious we are, we always think there’s something behind it. And then the next one might say, “Oh, they already have a solution for a solution,” if the FIA proposes a change and Mercedes has already developed something in that direction, and then they walk out the door. already running. But I think that’s going a little too far. “
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