Russell fears football-style health crisis

Mercedes’ George Russell has again spoken out on the physical effects of “porpoising”, likening it to footballers from the Sixties and Seventies heading heavy footballs.

Russell took part in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, and raised concerns over the impact of the high-speed oscillation that some cars are experiencing this season.

“When you are travelling at 200mph on the straight, and you are smashing up and down on the ground, for sure you wouldn’t choose to have it that way,” Russell, said. “The cars are extremely rigid and they are not meant to be a comfortable ride. You could compare it to the footballers of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties when they had the massively heavy footballs.

“Research was done and analysis was done that there were health consequences for these chaps who headed the ball, and things were changed. Formula One is the centre of innovation and there is no reason why we cannot find a scientific solution for this.”

Russell – who finished second in second practice yesterday – has previously complained about porpoising this season. The 24-year-old said at Imola that the W13’s issues with bouncing at high speed on the straights were “extreme”. “The bouncing, it really takes your breath away. It’s the most extreme I’ve ever felt it,” said Russell who added he was feeling chest and back pain that weekend and called the physical problems “unsustainable”.

On Thursday, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also questioned the 2022 cars’ design philosophy – aimed to create closer racing – if it came at a cost on the drivers’ bodies. “I’m already feeling it. I don’t need expert advice to know that 10 years like this it’s going to be tough,” he said.