Key Highlights
- To extract maximum performance, teams had to run very low and stiff. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2022, porpoising proved to be a major headache, but even after that the discomfort never fully disappeared.
- Several drivers complained about physical issues, as Max Verstappen remarked in Las Vegas that at times “my whole back is falling apart”. Reflecting on the past rule cycle, single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis acknowledged that the importance of ride height was underestimated by the FIA.“The fact that the optimum [ride height] of the cars moved so much lower was a miss in the 2022 regulations," Tombazis told a select group of media, including Motorsport. com. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It's something that we missed — and not only us but also the teams.
- In all discussions, nobody raised that issue.
- It was something that became obvious very, very close to the start of the championship, when it was too late to change the regulations.“The initial porpoising, which hasn't totally disappeared but has obviously improved massively, was also something that had not been anticipated.
- I wish we had done better there."McLaren MCL38 floorMcLaren MCL38 floorHowever, the FIA rejected the suggestion that these ride height issues could have been solved if it had given teams less freedom with the suspension. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We don't believe that suspension changes would have had a first-order effect," he said.