The FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has approved changes to Formula One’s technical regulations in 2022 and 2023 that tackle the issue of porpoising whilst also introducing more outstanding safety standards on roll hoops. The FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved regulations on 16 August for the 2026 Formula 1 power unit (PU) regulations, which will apply to the PUs developed for and used starting with the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship. Elsewhere, the FIA World Motorsport Council has also approved changes to the 2022 and 2023 Technical Regulations, including the controversial directive regarding the anti-porpoising measures, which has troubled multiple teams this season.
The governing body of Formula One has now approved changes to its 2023 technical regulations that seek to improve the roll hoop’s durability. Formula One governing body, the FIA, has today announced significant changes to Formula One 2022 and 2023 Technical Regulations, which aim to address several major safety issues. The FIA has confirmed that technical limitations will change in the 2023 Formula One season and the 2023 Formula One season to reduce ground effects from the tyres. The FIA have confirmed rule changes for the 2023 Formula One season designed to reduce the amount of porpoise and to bounce in the 2023 Formula One season, but they have reduced a vital element of the plans.
Following Zhou Guanyus’s horrific crash at Silverstone, the FIA will also be rolling out changes to car roll hoops to prevent them from digging into the ground in the event of a crash, as well as tougher tests of the rounds themselves. After several Formula One drivers and teams expressed concerns over the health risks for drivers caused by the ground effects caused by porpoise and bouncing from the rigid Ground Effect cars introduced this season, the FIA confirmed changes to try and minimise the impact of the porpoise while protecting the driver’s health.
The announcement follows the meetings earlier this year of the F1 Technical Advisory Council, which determined F1 would implement the new technical regulations for 2023. The FIA has taken action to finally eliminate aerodynamic flaps from the FIA Formula One World Championship, implementing changes to rules, with a number being implemented since the summer break. According to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, “Safety is the top priority for the FIA, and we have committed substantial time and resources to the investigation and solutions of the issue of porpoising.” It is obvious that the FIA must act and ensure that the drivers are not put at undue risk of injury due to this phenomenon, even though there are differences in opinion due to different competitive positions. I have personally discussed this matter with all of the teams and drivers.
