The FIA has introduced new rules for Formula One teams after several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, were left in pain after the Azerbaijani Grand Prix last weekend; watch the GP of Canada live all weekend on Sky Sports, with the race starting at 7pm on Sunday
Last updated: 16/06/22 23:57
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Ted Kravitz explains why Mercedes will not be happy with the FIA’s intervention to address the problems caused by marine animals.
Ted Kravitz explains why Mercedes will not be happy with the FIA’s intervention to address the problems caused by marine animals.
After the introduction of new rules by the FIA in an attempt to combat the jumping of Formula 1 cars, Ted Kravitz of Sky Sports F1 explains how the changes may affect the rest of the 2022 season.
The strong jumping of cars was an unexpected problem after the introduction of completely new F1 design rules for the current campaign, as Mercedes was one of the most affected teams.
Lewis Hamilton complained about the problem throughout the season, but with the uneven street track in Baku during the Azerbaijani Grand Prix last weekend, which exacerbated the problem and left the seven-time world champion in great pain after the race, the Formula One governing body took action.
A technical directive issued by the FIA ahead of Canada’s GP this weekend will force teams struggling to jump to change their car’s settings to protect their drivers by limiting the level of “vertical oscillation”.
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Mercedes’ George Russell welcomes new FIA measures aimed at fighting the guinea pig amid fears about driver safety.
Mercedes’ George Russell welcomes new FIA measures aimed at fighting the guinea pig amid fears about driver safety.
The FIA has not confirmed whether the rules will apply in Montreal, with the announcement made just over 24 hours before Friday’s opening practice of the ninth Grand Prix of the season.
Sky Sports F1 Ted Kravitz explains how he expects the rules to affect track performance.
“Surprising intervention is not what Mercedes wanted”
This is quite surprising, because Mercedes has spent the last few weeks and races, saying that something needs to be done to solve the problems of jumping, posing cars, which is an aerodynamic phenomenon.
In fact, the last race was not an aerodynamic phenomenon. The fact was that Mercedes was dropping its cars very low to the ground and the cars were hitting the track when they hit some bumps.
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Lewis Hamilton was apparently in pain as he got out of his car after his Mercedes suffered major problems in Azerbaijan, prompting Toto Wolf to apologize.
Lewis Hamilton was apparently in pain as he got out of his car after his Mercedes suffered major problems in Azerbaijan, prompting Toto Wolf to apologize.
So, what Mercedes wanted to hear from the FIA was a rule that maybe everyone picks up their cars so drivers don’t get bad back.
Instead, what I received from the FIA is almost an operational group, a technical directive aimed at people whose cars jump, namely Mercedes.
So this works against Mercedes and this can have a very negative effect on the Lewis Hamilton season. Based on what they say, the FIA will look at ways to stop the guinea pig, at Mercedes it all means lifting the car up so the car doesn’t hit the ground anymore and doesn’t hurt back to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
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Lewis Hamilton says he prayed the race would end after suffering severe back pain after his Mercedes crashed during the Azerbaijani Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton says he prayed the race would end after suffering severe back pain after his Mercedes crashed during the Azerbaijani Grand Prix.
Of course, the consequence of this is that Mercedes cars will go slower, because that’s not the way they like to drive at top speed. They like to run close to the ground – and if you get a bad back, I’m sorry it’s just a consequence of moving fast. You pick up the Mercedes, you will walk slowly.
So that’s the reaction we have here in Canada to what was a really surprising FIA intervention, not the one Mercedes was looking for.
“Decision in favor of Red Bull”
In front of the field, this will really give an advantage, in my opinion, to Red Bull, because they never had problems with the guinea pig, while Ferrari did.
And it seems that Red Bull is not only in control of Ferrari’s unreliability at a clear pace, but now it seems that this latest technical directive will benefit Red Bull, potentially against Ferrari, if they have to jump. which I have met constantly in the last few races.
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Highlights from the GP of Azerbaijan from the track in the city of Baku.
Highlights from the GP of Azerbaijan from the track in the city of Baku.
In the McLaren midfield in Baku, he seemed to be falling very low to the ground, and this caused Daniel Ricciardo some back pain.
Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri, also in this midfielder, wanted to fall very low to the ground. The car was best when it was low to the ground.
You can see people who don’t suffer that much, Valteri Botas in Alfa Romeo, maybe Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin and Lance Stroll, actually skip them, and that can be helpful.
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