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Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT03
Autosport Plus
Opinion

The political implications of F1’s porpoising problem

After months of hype, the new generation of Formula 1 cars appeared on track last week for pre-season testing in Barcelona. While the new-for-2022 regulations were implemented to improve overtaking, some teams have found that the aerodynamic changes have already had a detrimental effect - one which could soon become the subject of a political game.

Despite all of Formula 1’s high-tech windtunnel and CFD technology, plus the most brilliant of engineering brains, the pitlane was caught on the hop last week by the return of the porpoising phenomenon.

While much of the talk in the build-up to the running of the new 2022 ground effect machinery had been about super stiff setups and flexi-floors to try and better seal the under car Venturi tunnels, no one had openly predicted the potential risk of cars bouncing their way down the straights.

Previous article Russell: Reduced F1 slipstream effect could compromise passing
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