The team that had perfected every Formula 1 track appeared to struggle this season as their star driver, Lewis Hamilton, failed to claim even a single Grand Prix victory. However, there is no need to worry as the Mercedes Supremo Toto Wolff has planned the next tactic to get Lewis Hamilton back into the contest.
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The Silver Arrows have had difficulties during the entire campaign. The year that was meant to feature Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen competing at their best didn’t go as expected, as throughout the year the Brackley-based side suffered through a porpoising issue. After the FIA made some significant adjustments to the rules for 2022; a number of teams experienced the same bouncing issue. However, the German manufacturers remained the worst-hit ones.
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Toto Wolff emphasizes the significance of rule revisions as the team grappled with the porpoising issue once more during the season finale. He said, “You come to a conclusion that it’s not a problem anymore, and then you find a track which is not even the worst in terms of bouncing and the porpoising, and the bouncing and the poor ride is back.”
Toto Wolff’s request for rule modifications prompted the FIA to take action. Although other teams refused to budget from the old regulations.
More than helped the grid against Toto Wolff
More than half of the field was discovered to be against the FIA rule amendments earlier this year. Six teams, including Ferrari, Red Bull, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo, Haas, and Williams, reportedly opposed the proposed reforms of the governing body; because they disapproved of the FIA’s safety concerns for drivers’ health.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 10: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talk in the team principals press conference ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 10, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
FIA published a new technical directive to limit the quantity of porpoising prior to the Canadian Grand Prix this year. The regulating bodies claim to be considering the forthcoming years. Further, the reports claim that the FIA would need a 25mm increase in floor edges. The teams who didn’t suffer as much as the other teams didn’t take kindly to this proposition. We may see the aggressive Red Bull, to mention a few of the top Protestants.
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In light of this, Christian Horner said, “I think we end up with encyclopedias that sometimes are way too complicated, and there’s no such thing as the intent of the regulations. It’s a binary thing. I think the process is the thing to discuss as well because a TD [technical directive] shouldn’t be regulatory changes. There’s a governance and a process for that. So I think we just need to talk through exactly why [it is considered necessary].”
WATCH THIS STORY: F1 Clarifies Safety Car Rules That Cost Lewis Hamilton The 2021 Championship
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Even though the skies appear to be black this time, the sun will undoubtedly rise again for the Silver Arrows.
