MONTREAL (Reuters) – Formula One championship chief Max Verstappen spoke out in opposition to mid-season rule adjustments on Friday whereas Lewis Hamilton mentioned driver well being got here first in dialogue of the game’s ‘porpoising’ problem.
Sitting side-by-side in entrance of the media forward of Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, the pair went head-to-head in discussing a transfer by the governing FIA to deal with the problem of vehicles bouncing dramatically at excessive speeds.
Concern reached new ranges final weekend on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when a bruised seven-times world champion Hamilton struggled to get out of his Mercedes after ending fourth.
Verstappen mentioned porpoising was one thing teams must be left to deal with relatively than the FIA stepping in.
“Regardless if it will assist us or work in opposition to us, I feel rule adjustments in the midst of the yr I do not suppose is appropriate,” mentioned Verstappen, who enters Sunday’s race 21 factors away from group mate Sergio Perez.
“For positive the porpoising we now have in the mean time is not good. But some teams are capable of deal with this stuff quite a bit higher than others so it’s attainable to do away with it.
“I do not suppose we now have to over dramatise what is going on.”
However, Hamilton mentioned he would not have been capable of go the game’s extraction check.
“I can not stress extra how vital well being is for us,” the Briton mentioned. “Safety must be paramount.
“My discs (within the again) are undoubtedly not in the very best of form proper now and that is not good for longevity and there are issues we will do.
“It’s not about dealing with the bouncing for the following 4 years it is about utterly eliminating it and fixing it so that each one of us do not have again issues.”
As a few of motor racing’s finest minds work additional time to unravel the problem brought on by new aerodynamic laws, Verstappen maintained it was one thing simply mounted if teams are prepared.
The answer? Just elevate the automobile up, mentioned the 24-year-old Dutchman, totally conscious that might additionally convey a marked drop in efficiency.
“Naturally ourselves and group have to search out the restrict of (what) you possibly can cope together with your physique your self for efficiency,” mentioned Verstappen.
“I do not suppose it is appropriate now to should intervene and begin to apply these form of guidelines … it is extremely easy; go up and you will not have these points.”
(Reporting by Steve Keating; Editing by Ken Ferris)
