Against hobbling, for roll bars
New F1 rules aim to protect drivers from pain
07/15/2022 1:24 p.m
Lewis Hamilton’s agonized walk from car to garage is the most poignant image of the problems caused by the bouncing Formula 1 cars. The world association FIA therefore decides to change the rules. In addition, a component is to be improved as a result of the dramatic accident at Guanyu Zhou.
In the fight against the bouncing of Formula 1 cars, several rule changes are planned for the coming season. After a meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee, the World Motor Sport Association FIA presented four adjustments to the regulations. The World Council has yet to approve these measures, but this is usually a formality.
Miraculously, Zhou was unharmed.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Among other things, the edges of the car underbody are to be raised by 25 millimeters. In addition, more precise sensors are provided in order to better measure the aerodynamic vibrations. Immediate measures are planned from the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps at the end of August, the first after the roughly four-week summer break, so that the flexibility of the underbody can be checked more closely in the future.
According to some statements, the FIA wants to use the changes to reduce the problem of so-called hopping “and hopefully eliminate it in the near future”, as it is seen as a safety problem. Recently, however, the criticism had subsided again.
Zhou’s violent accident has an impact
The technical problem arises from the aerodynamically heavily modified vehicles this season. At high speed, the cars on the straights are pressed onto the ground until they briefly touch the asphalt and are then pushed up again. This is repeated several times.
The drivers are exposed to frequent blows in the cockpit. Mercedes in particular was affected, this was most evident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton could hardly get out of the cockpit due to his back pain and then hobbled to the garage.
Guanyu Zhou’s horror accident at Silverstone was also discussed at the session. The Chinese overturned shortly after the start after a collision with his Alfa Romeo and crashed over the tire barrier into the safety fence. The once controversial “Halo” cockpit protection was his lifesaver. The roll bar should therefore be even more resistant from 2023 onwards.