As part of the FIA’s effort to crack down on excessive porpoising , the federation has tightened its grip on the stiffness of the single-seater floor to try to ensure a level playing field between all teams.
Suspicions that some of the teams have found clever ways to bring their cars closer to the ground, through the use of flexible components in their flat bottoms, run through the paddock.
A less rigid floor means you can be more aggressive with the height of the front end to increase the performance of the car, having fewer concerns about porpoising and plate wear.
However, as part of the FIA ‘s investigation into the phenomenon of porpoising in F1, it was found that some teams have taken advantage of the gray areas of the regulations to fully comply with the rules and controls of the underside of the car, but also they have built their cars in a way that was not originally intended.
Initially, it was believed that this was mainly due to the teams making sure their floors and planks were stiff enough in the areas being tested, but flexed in other areas.
However, Motorsport.com has learned, following the latest talks between the teams and the FIA at this weekend’s F1 Commission meeting, an even more intricate novel trick has emerged.
It is suspected that some teams have cleverly divided the skid blocks , which protect the holes where the FIA takes plate thickness measurements, into separate sections.
There’s a main skid block that surrounds most of the hole, but there’s also a rear section that moves up and down independently within the plank, to be fully enclosed and protected if the car hits the ground.
By disappearing into the interior of the plate, this section does not wear away when the rest of the floor hits the track, so it maintains its original thickness to comply with the 9mm depth checks carried out by the FIA after the races.
The plate of the lower area of the flat bottom of a Formula 1
Until now, teams only needed to ensure sufficient thickness in one area of the hole to comply with regulations, so the moving part of the slide block would have no problem passing the test.
From the Belgian Grand Prix , when the new ground regulations come into force, the FIA thickness checks will be modified.
In the draft of the new technical directive, sent to the teams before the British GP, it was stated that: “We wish to confirm that compliance with this article will be required in at least 75% of each periphery.”
This means teams will no longer be able to use small areas of movable slide block material to help meet regulations in a single area.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, whose team has shown satisfaction with the FIA’s move to act on ground stiffness, confirmed at the Austrian Grand Prix that two different tricks had been made public in recent talks.
“In fact, some teams have [slip] blocks that really disappear when the car hits bottom,” he said.
“The raison d’etre of the blocks is that they mark the limit of how much plate wear you can have. And if a block can miraculously disappear into the ground, that’s clearly against the rules.”
“Then the second thing is a plate that can deviate or that basically also goes further than the tolerance should allow, which is one millimeter. And if a plate moves many more millimeters into the interior of the car, obviously, also gains some performance”.
“I think the former is going to go away for Spa…because apparently the sliding block material is not available [until then]. And the latter is going to be clarified in next year’s regulations.”
Red Bull and Ferrari have been instrumental in the emphasis on flexible flooring and slip blocks as they have been the fastest teams so far this season.
Christian Horner , the boss of the Red Bull team, is categorical in stating that his team has not done anything that goes against the regulations.
“That is total stupidity. Total stupidity,” he reiterated. “I think we’re confusing the issues here.”
“Maybe he’s referring to, I don’t know, the cars around him at the moment. I have no idea, but I have absolutely no issues or concerns around our floor.”
Ferrari has admitted, however, that the clarification on the new tests on the ground will force his team to make some modifications.
“There will be some changes that will be necessary because a new clarification has now been issued with new tests that are required on new requirements and new specifications,” they confirmed from the Scuderia .
“It will take some time to do, so at least I think it’s good to delay it until Belgium, because there is no need to rush.”
Bottom view of the Ferrari F1-75
