In the 2022 F1 season, from the get-go, the shaking heads of the drivers inside the cockpit on track have turned heads off track. The phenomenon known as ‘porpoising’ came to light and the team that was dealt the worst hand was Mercedes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
For the previous 8 seasons, the Brackley outfit knew one thing, which was how to bring home silverware and shine like a star. However, the new regulations put them in uncharted waters and below in the pecking order. The team scratched its heads week in and week out, to figure out how to remove the thorn in its side.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Not only is porpoising an issue for the car but also the driver commandeering the vehicle as it leads to an impact on the human body which can be sustained throughout one’s life. The Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, is adamant since day one that competition can never outweigh safety, and the FIA needs to put its attention immediately.
“You could say today, it seems like we have understood our car, we are on top of it – we have pole, let’s not change anything. It’s irrelevant, because it is a frequency of bouncing and porpoising that’s bad for the drivers.” – Toto Wolff on his continuing support for new regs #F1 pic.twitter.com/vo5es1McHs
— Simon Dau (@there_is_no_if) August 12, 2022
The Austrian team principal made his point using the data points from the medical research conducted with American Football players relating to head injuries after repetitive impacts throughout their careers. For many years, new reports have surfaced of NFL players with a case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Watch This Story: Lewis Hamilton Sounds Off the Alarm Bells for Mercedes F1
The athletes suffer major blows, ramifications of which can stay with them for life. As a result, many NFL giants have raised their voices against the issue and are heavily compensated by the league for the shortcoming of the regulations and safety measures.
The controversial series of events in the American sport led to form a hole in its loyal fanbase, and it looks like the top-flight of racing might be on the same track.
Mercedes CEO calls out the FIA
We say ‘Cash is King’ in F1, but it’s not in the same ballpark as the NFL. Some of the richest franchises in sports are from this league, which aided them in putting the controversial instances behind them. Yet, it finds itself at crossroads with the same question that the American conference settled with cash.
The aftermath of the medical dispute being settled with billion-dollar deals set up a huge stir in the sporting world. The outlook of the fans saw a massive change as an aware audience took its stance against a lasting traumatic injury and backed an alteration in the regulations. Wolff made his stance clear in a recent interview with Autosport.
He said, “It’s very simple: we have always said we can either do nothing, or do the right thing.”
“We have, and FIA has, you can ask them, medical analysis, that frequencies of one or two hertz over several minutes can lead to long term brain damage. We have six to seven hertz over several hours.”
“The FIA has just no option than to do something, and I think that trying to leave things alone, or have teams lobbying for it or against it, it’s just completely irrelevant.”
: Toto Wolff calls on FIA not to ignore the possible dangers of porpoising, says it’s a medical question that needs to be answered, uses “NFL situation” as an example and urged FIA not to risk having such.#F1 pic.twitter. com/78ndZqcF7d
— F1 Naija 
(@f1_naija) August 12, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“It’s a medical question that needs to be answered. And these reports are a reality and they are fact. I don’t think that the gang around the FIA will let themselves be manipulated in either direction.”
“The FIA says it doesn’t want to have an NFL situation.” Hey concluded.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
DIVE DEEPER
At the Belgium GP, we expect a fresh alteration to be announced by the FIA. Do you think the FIA should have intervened sooner?
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/mercedes/stoffel-vandoorne-banishes-f1-demons-by-becoming-formula-e-world-champion-planetf1
