THIS week’s French Grand Prix is about to get incredibly political in a row over rules.
Just when we thought F1’s dreaded porpoising phenomenon was behind us, the bouncing cars are expected to make an unwelcome return, and they are at the centre of it.
Mercedes have struggled with ‘porpoising’ for much of the seasonCredit: GettyLewis Hamilton (right) has suffered with a bad back as a result of the porpoisingCredit: Getty
Expect complaints about bad backs and blurry vision from the drivers while the subtext behind the latest missive from the sport’s governing body, the FIA, is even more uncomfortable.
First, a bit of a recap.
This year’s cars have been designed to use “ground-effects” – using a car’s floor to create downforce – rather than complicated and expensive front and rear wings.
Yet while some teams (mainly Red Bull and Ferrari) have mastered their designs, others, such as Mercedes, haven’t and the flow of air under the car’s floor caused the car to oscillate.
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Lewis Hamilton’s team have certainly been the more vocal, and George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, has also complained.
The upshot is that last week, the FIA confirmed they would be taking measures as it considered the porpoising “a significant safety matter”.
Note the term because it means they can make changes to the rule book without getting the approval from the teams to do so.
As a result, this has gone down like a lead balloon in Maranello and Milton Keynes where Ferrari and Red Bull’s design teams have been left feeling devastated.
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It is understandable, for they’d managed to crack the equation and create quick cars that conform to the rules, and do not have bouncing.
So what are the FIA changing? Well, from the Belgium GP this year, they have stipulated stiffer planks under the cars to stop the underneath flexing.
And from next year, rule tweaks include raising the floor edges and changing the diffuser, plus the introduction of sensors to help police just how much bouncing is legal.
Although technical, it has – and will continue to cause a stink with some insiders suggesting that Mercedes have over-blown the safety aspect.
They point out that if they were suffering that badly, they could simply increase the ride height to stop the bouncing and striking the floor – however, that would be at the detriment of lap times.
On top of this, if it is such a safety issue, why were there no such problems in Canada, Silverstone and Austria? There is also a distinct feeling that the FIA’s intervention goes against the spirit of the regulations and that a governing body has no place telling teams how to set up their race cars.
It is like Manchester United failing to sign a new goalkeeper – and then Uefa stepping in to change the rules to permit smaller goalposts.
No wonder some teams all think it is all rather murky, especially as the waters are already muddy.
The FIA have recently appointed Shaila-Ann Rao in a senior role, and she was recently a special advisor to Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff.
While there is no evidence or inference of any foul play, with soaring temperatures set for the week, tempers could boil over.
Raz back on track
Toprak Razgatlioglu completed a hat-trick at Donington last weekend, winning all three races and taking a perfect score of 62 points.
The Turkish racer is looking to defend his WSBK title that he won last year and looks back to his best.
The Yamaha rider, 25, has taken 13 podiums in this year’s 15 races and has been hotly tipped with a switch to MotoGP for next season.
Toprak Razgatlioglu has rediscovered his winning formCredit: Getty
OMG Moment
Interesting to see Rich Energy resurface over the weekend – terminating a partnership with British Superbike team OMG Racing.
You may remember the drink’s brand sponsorship of the Haas F1 team with SunSport exclusively revealing they were pulling the plug due to poor performance.
William Storey claimed the team were a “milk float at the back of the grid”, much to the surprise of Haas.
Now they have terminated a deal with the motorbike team – via Twitter.
A statement from the Rich Energy account said: “PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: Rich Energy would like to thank @OMGRacingUK for their work in the last two years but the whole agreement is now at an end.
“Rich Energy is expanding its portfolio in many spheres including sport.”
Strangely, or maybe not considering Rich Energy’s previous form, OMG appear not to have known it was coming and still contain the team’s name on their website and social media.
The timing of the announcement is also perplexing. Both Kyle Ryde and Bradley Ray have won races in 2022 for OMG, with Ray leading the championship after four rounds, and ahead of a home race at Brands Hatch this weekend. Peculiar.
PIF find vroom
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), led by the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, have become the second-largest shareholder in Aston Martin.
The PIF, who also own Newcastle United and already have investments in McLaren, will buy shares worth £78m and take part in a £575m rights issue.
Lawrence Stroll will retain a controlling stake in the team as he juggles the team’s F1 operation and luxury sports car business.
Stroll has overseen the building of a new factory at Silverstone while on track performances have seen the team slump towards the back of the grid.
The Saudi investment fund is now the second-largest shareholder in Aston MartinCredit: Getty Images – Getty
