ROUND 10: 🇪🇸 Spain
FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2024
Circuit stats
- First Grand Prix: 1991
- Number of laps: 66
- Circuit Length: 4.657 km
- Race Distance: 307.236 km
- Lap record: 1:16.330 Max Verstappen (2023)
- 2023 winner: Max Verstappen
FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2024
Sounds like porpoising is still pretty bad. And yet, I’ve less than zero confidence in the ability of FOM to solve this with the 2026 regs.
Is the porpoising caused by regulations? I’ve understood it as teams not wanting to make alterations to prevent loss of aero, but they are able to fix it if they wanted to (like other teams).
The regs are definitely a part of it with the restrictor plate. Theoretically the regulations could dial back the porpoising by making changes to suspension and aero design, as well as altering the specifications of the tyres. At the same time, teams also have some responsibility to the extent the Technical Regulations allow engineering to make changes to the car.
2026 regs will reduce overall downforce and simplify floor design so the cars will be less reliant on ground effect. I’m not an aero engineer, but I suspect porpoising will be less of an issue because of this.
I am an aero engineer, but primarily with a focus on spacecraft design. I can do a deep dive on the regs and maybe see what I get from them, then potentially do a series of posts, assuming the community would want that.
Sounds very cool
I’ll see what I can do.