As is well known, the FIA and Formula 1 took action after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit to seek a solution for the porpoising problem which has affected a few teams especially in the start of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
At first there was a medical consultation, which confirmed the fears of repercussions on the health of the drivers, both immediate in terms of concentration and in the future on a physical level; subsequently it was decided to adopt a metric that will define a tolerable limit of vertical oscillations, which if exceeded will make the cars not legal. But during the checks carried out in Canada, the federal technical delegates discovered that some cars use flexible flat floors, and the FIA has thus linked the two issues in the name of safety, for an immediate intervention with the Technical Directive 039, which after long talks will be introduced starting with the Belgian Grand Prix after the summer break. According to various reconstructions, six teams would be opposed to the introduction of the Technical Directive, but this majority has no value, since operating for safety reasons, FIA and Formula 1 do not need to consult with the teams, according to Article 1.2.2 of the technical regulation.
Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto also spoke on this matter, as reported by the Germans of Auto, Motor und Sport: “There is no reason to classify the whole issue as a safety problem. Most teams have the bouncing under control for some time now. Fixed limits will be set for the race in Spa anyway. If the cars comply with the spec, they should also be safe.” The Maranello engineer then continued: “If there is no issue of safety, a normal voting procedure must be followed when changing the rules.”
Based on the statements made by the Ferrari Team Principal, Tobias Gruner of Auto Motor und Sport added: “Mattia Binotto went so far as to say that the rules could have been subject to protest, if they were approved with the theme of safety. The FIA does not have to prove that it is a safety issue. However, in a civil court, it could be proved that safety is not at risk in this case.”
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AMuS expects a compromise that will reduce the bouncing issues but will also not lead to the 2023 car being completely changed. But time is running out. The new floor rules are on the agenda for a fax voting by the FIA World Council on 2 August.
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