Health, a parameter not to be neglected for Ricciardo and Russell

Since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, porpoising remains the central point of debate in the paddock. Discussions are still ongoing to find the best approaches to mitigate this phenomenon. But in Baku, the Formula 1 and the teams have taken a step forward by endangering the health of the drivers. We could see it with Lewis Hamilton At the end of the race, the 51 laps of the circuit took a toll on his back. The twists and turns caused by porpoising represent a risk for the pilots' spine and their intervertebral discs.

Although he is not one of the pilots most exposed to porpoising, Daniel Ricciardo remains aware of the damage that porpoising can cause. “ I'm not really surprised by all this, because I felt it in Baku, explains the Australian about the risks to his health. Obviously looking at others it's like it's real. I think the position we're sitting in plays into it too, we're not really prepared for these impacts and kind of nipped in the bud. So we're probably a little vulnerable with our posture. » Vulnerable and without response until Baku, the FIA's decision should allow drivers to avoid being confronted with this situation again.

Putting health back at the top of priorities

« I think it's probably one of those where it's an unnecessary risk, advance Daniel Ricciardo. I think we're already taking a lot of risks getting in the car every weekend. » The Australian admits it himself, it is these risks which push him to lead his car at each Grand Prix. But you have to find the balance. “ That's part of what we love about this sport: going fast, putting everything on the line and trying to balance risk and reward. But this time, what some pilots experience is no longer the one who is the most courageous. »

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Being forced to absorb the shock, George Russell has been doing it since the start of the season. But the Briton had a difficult experience in Azerbaijan. “ It's obviously a bit of a shame to see that performance is prioritized over safety. In Baku, I could see my sign held up by the team but not read it because I was bouncing around a lot. I saw a video of Lance on one of the laps, struggling to make changes on the bottom of the steering wheel because you could visibly see how the car was shaking. »

With the FIA's position taken, George Russell is happy that Formula 1 is therefore giving priority to the health of the drivers. “ We are all competitors in this sport, we all want to win, but we can't put our bodies on the line before that. », Declares the Briton. We will now see in Baku how the teams will manage to adapt to this change in technical regulations.

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