Ferrari introduces shock absorber on F1-75 to protect front splitters | Bahrain GP. Ferrari introduces shock absorber on F1-75.

Scuderia Ferrari is hard at work preparing for tomorrow’s first two free practice sessions for the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix: the F1-75 car, as shown in the image of Giorgio Piola for Motorsport Italy, reveals a very interesting detail that usually remains well hidden: it is the shock absorber that the FIA ​​has allowed teams to use on the squares under the body near the T-tray.

This is not completely a novelty, because it was already talked about in 2013 on the Red Bull RB9, with different interpretations over time according to the changed rules dictated by the FIA.

With the introduction of ground-effect single-seaters, we have seen floors that tend to crawl on the asphalt in search of maximum aerodynamic load: one of the most critical points is once again that of the T-tray.

To prevent the splitter from breaking easily, the FIA ​​has made it possible for teams to control the flexions of the T-tray by even using a shock absorber to slow the return of the top to its natural position, after contact with the track surface or a curb.

The technical commissioners carefully explained how it can work: if the tool would be used to keep the splitter higher under the body, we would be faced with an illegal solution, because it would allow the car to lower the front even more, significantly increasing the downforce.

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The technicians, on the other hand, can work on the opposite function: slow down the return of the splitter to a static position after it has deformed upwards by crawling on a rough track.

The idea is to prevent the T-tray from being damaged frequently by hitting the track and curbs.

It is for this reason that the FIA ​​has allowed a certain degree of flexibility of the material: the FIA will check to make sure a movement can be a maximum of 5 linear mm under a certain thrust.

Last year, the use of torsion bars was enough, while with the ground-effect single-seaters Ferrari preferred to introduce a real shock absorber. And it is not the only team to have taken this route: it is true that this tool costs in terms of weight, but it is equally true that the risk of damaging the splitter would be very high without the damper.