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World Motor Sport Council possibly votes about porpoising-rules

World Motor Sport Council possibly votes about porpoising-rules

02-08-2022 06:53 Last update: 09:06
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GPblog.com

The Formula One season is halfway over and many parties are already looking ahead to 2023. It seems that the FIA is pushing for changes to next season's safety rules to combat porpoising. Many teams feel this is unnecessary, including Ferrari and Red Bull, who have suffered the least from bouncing. On the other hand, the teams are already busy developing the 2023 car.

Usually, next season's cars go into the wind tunnel around April, but this year it's happening later because of new regulations that require the teams to first learn the basics of the new 2022 cars and then understand what the focus of next season should be. The FIA decided to intervene after Baku, not only with regulations for the current season, but also with proposals for next year's regulations. A choice that has caused annoyance to many teams.

Problem due to summer break

In addition, the FIA is late in approving the decisions that will be taken with a view to 2023. This is a problem for many teams because the factories have to close for a number of days during the summer break and therefore have to stop working. In short, the teams are already working on the cars for next season, without knowing for sure whether the changes proposed by the FIA will be implemented or not. This would force the teams to make changes that would almost completely alter the characteristics of the cars.

Christian Horner is clear on the issue Formu1a.uno clear on the issue:"I don't see the reason to intervene again, except to satisfy someone's needs." Red Bull Racing is reportedly the team pushing the most to ensure that the FIA's proposals are not adopted in full, as it is the team that has suffered the least from porpoising.

Budget cap

As well as suspecting that the changes would benefit Mercedes, who have suffered the most from porpoising, the budget cap comes up again. "Many teams are working to take as many parts as possible from 2022 to 2023. Such a change for them would mean that more than half the car would have to be completely rebuilt, an expense that some may not even be able to afford," the Red Bull Racing team boss said.

This is the case with Alfa Romeo. "Our intention is to bring many of the 2022 parts to next year's project. If we had to rebuild most of these, it would mean using almost the entire 2023 development budget to rebuild these new elements," said Alfa Romeo technical director Jan Monchaux, explaining that this is true not only for them but also for many other teams.

Compromise

The changes proposed with a view to 2023 include raising the floor by 25mm."During the last meeting we proposed a compromise: 10 mm high compared to the 25 mm proposed by the FIA," Mattia Binotto revealed. A compromise that Ferrari and other teams would work on, as also admitted by Christian Horner:"In the end I think we will make a compromise choice, as it almost always happens in situations like this".

The World Motor Sport Council will discuss the issue on Tuesday and there may also be an official vote. In the event of a negative result, i.e. without an agreement between the teams, the FIA can and may act at its own discretion.