Lewis Hamilton face challenges as Mercedes attempt to advocate for a F1 rule change.
Mercedes advocated for a change in Formula 1 rules to address the 'porpoising' phenomenon they experienced in 2022. However, they found themselves in a challenging situation after the regulations were adjusted.
A senior Mercedes executive has acknowledged that the team adopted an excessively cautious approach in configuring the cars for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell during the current season.
Despite securing second place in the championship ahead of Ferrari, the Silver Arrows found themselves significantly trailing Red Bull, who clinched the title without much resistance with their dominant RB19. While Red Bull consistently optimized their car setups, Mercedes struggled, particularly during a rare off-weekend in Singapore, where the W14, akin to its predecessor, exhibited a challenging and temperamental nature, described by team principal Toto Wolff as a “diva.”
Technical director James Allison has now disclosed that Mercedes’ concerns led them to make an error in determining the appropriate ride height. Despite advocating for rule changes in 2022 to address the ‘porpoising’ phenomenon, which arises with the reintroduction of ground-effect aerodynamics, Mercedes’ cautious approach proved counterproductive. The FIA implemented changes for safety reasons, increasing the floor edge height by 15mm. However, Mercedes opted for an even higher setup, anticipating potential bouncing issues, a decision that ultimately compromised performance.
Allison explained, “There was a significant internal debate: should we utilize that 15mm by lowering the car, operating within a 15mm smaller window to minimize inherent bouncing? Or should we continue our successful strategy from the previous year, pushing ourselves to seek downforce in challenging high-up areas?”
He continued, “The tools available for predicting bouncing are not especially reliable, making it difficult to predict its precise occurrence. We decided to err on the side of caution, persisting in our quest for downforce in challenging areas. If it turned out we were too cautious, we committed to swiftly recovering. If others capitalized on the 15mm, considering it a gamble, and experienced bouncing, we would be perceived as wise for adopting a cautious approach.”
In hindsight, Allison acknowledged that their caution was excessive, stating, “It turns out it was too cautious. We could have capitalized on the 15mm and achieved better performance sooner if we had placed our bets on that part of the roulette wheel.”
