Russell: 2026 F1 Car 'Saves Years on the Back' Without Porpoising

Mercedes driver George Russell reported a positive first test of the 2026-spec car, highlighting the complete absence of the porpoising phenomenon that plagued the previous generation. The team completed a field-leading 502 laps in the simulator, with Russell logging 265, focusing on reliability and initial driver feel rather than outright performance.

Why it matters:

The elimination of porpoising is a significant quality-of-life improvement for drivers, who suffered physically from the intense bouncing. More importantly, it allows teams to develop cars without being constrained by a fundamental aerodynamic flaw, potentially leading to more stable and faster platforms from the start of the new regulatory era.

The Details:

• Russell joked the smoother ride would "save a few years on the back," directly referencing the physical toll taken on drivers' spines during the peak of the porpoising issue in 2022.
• The 2026 technical regulations have removed the conditions for porpoising by eliminating the requirement for the car floor to run extremely close to the track surface to generate downforce.
• This change heralds the return of 'rake'—a higher rear ride height—a concept Mercedes mastered during its dominant period from 2017 to 2021.
• Russell emphasized that while the car feels "nice to drive" with no major issues, the true test of pace is still unknown and will evolve dramatically before the first race.

Looking Ahead:

The test marks only the very beginning of a long development cycle. Russell cautioned that the competitive picture is fluid, with significant changes expected before the next official test in Bahrain and teams bringing continuous upgrades. The early positive impressions are a foundation, but the real work to unlock performance under the new rules is just starting.