FIA explains how it plans to control porpoising in 2023

After the Commission F1 which took place on the sidelines of the Austrian Grand Prix (July 10), the team bosses, F1 and the FIA ​​met this Thursday, July 14 for a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) largely devoted to to the phenomenon of porpoising and the thorny subject of floor rigidity, while certain teams are suspected of having had a very subjective reading of the regulations in force on the subject. 

First, the FIA ​​has confirmed that its short-term measures against poaching, which were supposed to come into force at the Belgian Grand Prix (August 31), will be taken into account at Spa-Francorchamps, with the establishment of a metric of vertical oscillation to measure porpoising, as well as quite a few changes required on flat bottoms, particularly at the level of the runners.

As a preamble, the protagonists noted three points. Firstly, that the rebound phenomenon had been less during the last races, but that this was only linked to the nature of the routes visited and that it was to be expected that it would start again in the future. weeks on certain circuits. 

Towards a worsening of porpoising in 2023? 

Also, it is specified that everyone expects a worsening of the pumping in 2023 with the teams' understanding of the new regulations and the new cars, which will produce even more downforce next year. And finally that the measures put in place in 2022, with the oscillation metric and the control of floor rigidities, are not intended to be long-term measures.

A new technical challenge awaits the minds of the paddock. © DPPI

Obviously in order to allow the teams to start working in detail on their 2023 single-seaters, the FIA presented to the teams a range of aerodynamic anti-porpoising measures that it wishes to implement from next season, always with the aim of controlling and drastically reducing widespread porpoising. Here are the 4 main measures:

1. An increase in the height of the floor edges of approximately 25 mm.
2. Raising the diffuser throat under the floor
3. The introduction of stricter lateral deflection tests
4. The introduction of a more efficient sensor to quantify aerodynamic oscillations

Note that these measures are not yet official, since they will have to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council. The TAC also discussed the spectacular and appalling accident of Guanyu-Zhou at Silverstone. Teams have confirmed they are prepared to introduce stricter measures regarding their hoops for 2023.

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