George Russell has said he suffered back and chest pain during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as a result of the “porpoising” problem disproportionately affecting Mercedes and warned drivers across the grid could not keep going until the end of the season if the issue persisted.
Russell managed to finish fourth at Imola having started 11th but his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, suffered a frustrating and fruitless race in 13th, and the ignominy of being lapped by race winner Max Verstappen, leaving team principal Toto Wolff to describe Hamilton’s car in particular as “undriveable”.
The Mercedes is still suffering from the porpoising – the violent bouncing on the straight caused by the ground-effect aero unloading and loading – that has stymied their car’s performance all season. At Imola it was particularly severe. In order to mitigate it, Mercedes have to compromise their set up, which affects tyre grip and downforce and has knock-on issues across the car.
“The bouncing, it really takes your breath away. It’s the most extreme I’ve ever felt it,” Russell said. “I real …
- April 26, 2022
