Carlos Sainz says he can already feel the impact porpoising is having on his body after five races and worries about his long-term health.
Porpoising is a phenomenon that goes hand-in-hand with ground effect aerodynamics, that philosophy behind this year’s all-new cars.
As the downforce pushes the car closer to the ground, the underfloor aero stalls resulting in the car rising away from the track. When that happens the aero kicks in again and the car is pushed back down towards the track. And so it goes.
The bouncing motion has been dubbed porpoising.
While Mercedes’ struggles have been widely reported on, all the other teams suffer with it to some degree with Ferrari’s F1-75 experiencing extreme bouncing but only at very high speeds.
Sainz says he can already feel the impact it is having on his body.
“We need to consider how much of a toll a driver should be paying for his back and his health in a Formula One career,” he said as per The Guardian.
“With these kinds of cars’ philosophy we need to open a debate more than anything.
“I have done checks on my back and neck tightness and this year it is tighter everywhere, I am already feeling it. I don’t need expert advice to know that 10 years like this is going to be tough.”
The problem is being compounded by the teams having to stiffer suspensions to try minimise the bouncing, and that means the drivers are feeling very little bump on the track a lot more than they have in previous years.
“To run as stiff for our necks and backs as we are having to run lately with this car mass, it’s a question for F1 and everyone to think about,” the Ferrari driver added.
“How much a driver needs to pay a price in his career and his health in order to combat it. I am thinking long-term.”
The Spaniard believes Formula 1 is fast reaching the point where the powers-that-be need to have the conversation.
“There is the interest of the teams, of…
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