What AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost advises Formula One drivers who complain about the bouncing of the new race cars – David Coulthard thinks similarly
According to George Russell, the forces involved in so-called bouncing or porpoising are “way above what you would classify as safe”. Lance Stroll also feels the situation is “very hard physically” and “not sustainable for 23 races” in a Formula One season. AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost, however, disagrees.
“On the one hand, I can understand the drivers complaining because it’s not so easy for them,” Tost said in the press conference at the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. “On the other hand, it’s just a Formula One car.” And Formula One cars have been difficult to drive in the past, he added. “So this is nothing new,” Tost says.
For the drivers in the 2022 season, this means above all: “They have to train the neck muscles and the gluteal muscle even more. That definitely helps. “
Nobody should expect comfort in Formula 1, says Tost
What to make of the measures announced by the Automobile World Association (FIA), “I don’t know yet”, says Tost. As a first step, the world federation wants to determine how high the g-forces are that affect the drivers when driving, in order to then technically mitigate them.
Which does not change the basic problem very much, says Tost. “One thing is clear: we are talking about a Formula 1 car here, not a Rolls Royce. The drivers should be aware of that. “
It was also “clear from the beginning” that the Formula One cars would “not be easy to drive” under the new regulations for 2022, Tost explained. “Why? Because the cars have to be tuned quite stiffly because of the [ground effect]. “
Why the cars will be harder to drive in 2022
“The cars are also very low over the track. At least you gain a lot of power when the car is as low as possible and when it is tuned as hard as possible. On top of that, you have the 18-inch wheels, which means you have less suspension through the tyres. All this makes the cars less comfortable than in the past. “
“And now drivers are complaining about it. But if the cars are too stiff or too difficult to drive, then maybe the drivers should stay at home and sit in an armchair in the living room. Then they can watch the races on TV or whatever,” says Tost.
Coulthard: Those who feel uncomfortable should leave
Former Formula One driver David Coulthard feels similarly. He told a W Series press conference, “If a driver is uncomfortable and he feels he is doing himself permanent damage, then he should quit. Because there are quite a few guys and gals who are very happy to take over the car if you’re uncomfortable.”
According to Coulthard, sometimes a Formula One driver just has to grit his teeth. “I myself have been in a situation where my team has been better. And I’ve been on the other side when my team hasn’t been so good, and then you just have to go through it, even if you have lower back pain,” Coulthard said.
Current Formula One drivers also need to realise “that you can’t be the princess on the pea in motorsport”, says Coulthard. He adds: “After all, as a boxer you accept someone hitting you in the face. And in football, someone hits you in the back of the legs with their cleats.”
“We just have to keep in mind that [extreme bouncing] is just the situation of certain teams at the moment. There will be an evolution. But mainly you just have to go through it. “
