FIA: An update of the technical regulations for 2023

Dolphin-nosing appeared at the beginning of the season following the new regulations. This has greatly affected many cars, notably the Mercedes. The most blatant episode was surely in Baku where Lewis Hamilton struggled to get out of his car.

Following numerous complaints from drivers about these violent rebounds at high speeds, the FIA decided to impose a new directive before the Canadian Grand Prix for safety reasons. To further address this issue in-depth, the president of the FIA has announced additions to the technical regulations for 2023.

Having discussed the porpoising issue with all 20 @F1 drivers & 10 team principals, I’m happy to confirm that we will be submitting updated 2023 Technical Regulations to the WMSC this week to address this, in addition to the measures already taken for the remainder of this season

— Mohammed Ben Sulayem (@Ben_Sulayem) August 8, 2022

« After discussing the issue of dolphin training with the 20 pilots.

F1 and the 10 team bosses, I am pleased to confirm that we will submit the updated technical regulations for 2023 to the WMSC – World Motor Sport Council – this week to address this issue, in addition to the measures already taken for the rest of this season. » tweeted Mohammed ben Sulayem.

The FIA’s intervention regarding porpoising has sparked a lot of discussion within the paddock, and the team principals have spoken out, notably Christian Horner. The Red Bull member stated that it was unfair to change the rules when only one team suffers more than the others, specifically pointing a finger at the Mercedes team.

Toto Wolff admitted that teams were trying to maintain a competitive advantage but insisted that the situation had clearly gone too far. He added that the drivers were suffering from what was a design problem that needed to be resolved.

« Some leaders are trying to manipulate what has been said in order to maintain a competitive advantage, and are attempting to play a political game while the FIA is trying to intervene with a quick solution that would put the cars in a better position, which is dishonest. » said the Mercedes leader.

« It is a common problem that we all have in Formula 1… This design issue needs to be resolved. There are long-term negative effects that cannot be ignored. Obviously, people will question my position, whether it is honest or not. That’s why I’m saying that it’s not only a problem specific to Mercedes.

»

« There are all these discussions about lobbying, in both directions. But fundamentally, what are we talking about? The FIA has requested a medical report on the consequences of dolphin training. What specialists are saying is that a frequency of 1 to 2 Hz, sustained for a few minutes, can cause brain damage. We are currently experiencing a frequency of 6-7 Hz over several hours. The answer is therefore simple. Yes, the FIA must do something.

»

New decisions will therefore move in this direction by 2023, that of protecting the pilots’ health. The intervention of the FIA raises questions and sparks a lot of debate. However, the institution seems involved and close to the teams in order to resolve the various issues related to this new regulation.

The next Council will be held in Paris on October 19, 2022.