Formula 1 doctors and the FIA are sounding the alarm
Teams need to reduce dangerous rebound
06/16/2022, 7:32 PM
The message from the World Motorsports Federation is unequivocal: Formula 1 teams must tackle the problem of “jumping” cars aggressively. The FIA fears that recoil could have severe consequences for pilots in pain.
In the debate surrounding Formula 1 car jumping, also known as the bounce, the FIA sees itself compelled to act. And according to a statement, “in the interest of safety,” the racing teams are required to “reduce or eliminate this phenomenon.” This decision was made “after consulting with doctors”. The teams must now make the “necessary adjustments”. In addition to the short-term technical measures related to the cars, the FIA will also hold a meeting with the teams to determine further steps that will ensure that problems do not occur in the long term.
According to “auto motor und sport” reports, the FIA intends to set the maximum value mentioned in Friday’s training sessions in Montreal, which will be adhered to from the third free training session on Saturday. In addition to short-term measures, the FIA also wants to hold a technical meeting with the teams “to determine measures that would reduce the tendency of cars to experience such phenomena in the medium term”.
“In a sport where participants routinely drive at over 300 km/h, it is assumed that the driver’s entire focus must be focused on this task,” the FIA statement read. Driver fatigue or pain can have serious consequences. In addition, the FIA has “concerns about direct physical effects on the health of drivers”, some of whom have recently reported back pain.
This also affected seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Television footage showed the 37-year-old shortly after the race ended last Sunday in Baku, apparently struggling to get out of his car. He “gnawed his teeth” with headaches and back pain and made it to the end thanks to his adrenaline. A number of other pilots have also reported similar experiences. The technical problem is caused by the vehicles that have changed significantly this season. At high speed, the cars on the strait are pressed to the ground until they briefly touch the asphalt and then pushed again. Drivers are shaken violently frequently.