George Russell discusses potential 'safety concern' with 'porpoise effect' on new F1 cars

Mercedes driver George Russell has said that the ‘porpoise effect’ we’re seeing with some of the new Formula 1 cars could be a ‘safety concern,’ though he is backing the talented engineers each team has to get on top of the issue quickly.

Yesterday we saw something in Formula 1 that we haven’t for a long time and that was where the cars were bobbing up and down at high speed on a straight thanks to ground effect.

Indeed, ground effect is back in Formula 1 after previously being seen in the late 70s and early 80s, as part of the new regulations designed to help cars follow one another far more closely than they have been able to in the past.

There always seemed the chance of teething troubles with the new regulations, though, and this appears to be one of them.

Indeed, it’s impacted some cars worse than others and Russell says it could be a safety concern for some – though he thinks resolutions will be found quickly by the sharp minds inside the F1 paddock and garages:

“I think you can see some quite substantial issues with the cars in the straights with the bottoming,” Russell said.

Bumpy road to the top for Charles Leclerc!