Formula 1: Top 4 challenges of the new regulations

Formula 1 challenges: No. 4 – Porpoising vs. aerodynamics

The most repeated word during testing for the 2022 season, and a central figure in the technical terminology of the new era of Formula 1 cars, “porpoising” has become the primary factor in determining the ride height on a given weekend.

The general trade-off of porpoising is a lower ride height with increased downforce or a more comfortable, consistent ride free of the horrendous bouncing entering high-speed braking zones with less downforce.

With the cars already being more naturally stiff in their ride due to the larger tires and complementing suspension package, the discovery of porpoising has been a quite literal pain in the neck for many drivers. Mercedes’ drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both been adamantly vocal about the porpoising issue in their cars, even following the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Going into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at a circuit in which lengthy straights leading to heavy braking zones are common, teams facing the popoising plague will be intent on solving the problem in advance.

For a team such as Mercedes though, they will be desperate to lose as much drag as possible on an already “draggy” car. This would point them in the direction of a lower ride height to recover downforce via the floor.

But given their porpoising issues thus far, the team could find themselves between a rock and a hard place in terms of finding a balanced setup for their drivers at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, one of the single most challenging circuits in recent memory.