Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas doesn’t believe the ‘porpoising’ phenomenon F1 teams experienced during last week’s test is a potential safety risk, despite concerns expressed by others.
Cars were observed rapidly rising and falling on their suspension at high speed during the test as teams got to grips with drastically changed regulations for the 2022 season. The new rules have allowed them to sculpt their cars’ floors in a way which generates significant levels of downforce. However if the airflow through the floors stalls, the cars rise up on their suspension, then sink back down as the downforce returns, creating an effect known as ‘porpoising’.
George Russell, who replaced Bottas at Mercedes during the off-season, said last week the bouncing seen at Circuit de Catalunya “has the potential to be a real safety concern”. However Bottas is confident teams will rapidly get it under control.
“For now I don’t think it’s a safety issue,” he said. “I think…