F1 puts brakes on porpoising for driver safety ahead of Canadian GP

Reaction is mixed throughout the Formula One paddock to a technical directive issued this week designed to address the dangerous bouncing of cars, aka ‘porpoising’ on the track

Lewis Hamilton joked that he felt shorter from the abuse to his spine last week as the seven-time Formula One champion bounced around the street circuit in Azerbaijan.

It took all week for his body to recover because his new Mercedes is suffering from the “porpoising” effect plaguing several teams after F1 cleared the way for different techniques for downforce aerodynamics this season. The FIA stepped in ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix with technical directives designed to counter the bouncing of the cars that's been a byproduct of ground effect changes, a move welcomed by Hamilton for his own health.

He's not seen a physician about many of his ailments — Hamilton uses Angela Cullen, his personal physiotherapist, for recovery — but couldn't dismiss the possibility he and other drivers are being subjected to potential micro-concussions each time they are on track.

“I've definitely been having a lot more headaches in the past months, but I've not seen a specialist about it, so I'm not taking it too seriously. I've just taken painkillers, so hopefully I don't have any concussions," Hamilton said Friday.

He rejected the idea his suffering is worse than others because he's 37 — “there's a lot more to recovery and I don't think that journey has anything to do with age, I think it's generally just because the bruising can be quite severe” — and Hamilton insisted the porpoising needed to be addressed by F1's governing body for safety reasons.

“Putting the technical stuff aside... I cannot stress more how important health is for us," he said. "Safety has to be paramount and has, has to be the most important thing.”

But reactions to the change differed amongst the 10 teams — and had little immediate effect on Friday's two practice sessions. Max Verstappen, the reigning champion and current points leader, paced both sessions as he seeks his sixth win in nine races. Hamilton was 13th in Friday's second practice, and teammate George Russell was seventh.