Mercedes Confident in 2026 F1 Porpoising Solution, Highlights Strategic Depth of New Power Unit Regulations

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has indicated a strong belief that the radical new Formula 1 regulations set to debut in 2026 will effectively eliminate the ‘porpoising’ and ‘bouncing’ phenomena that significantly impacted the current generation of cars since their introduction in 2022. While this specific aerodynamic challenge is expected to be resolved, Shovlin cautioned that the new era will introduce its own set of complex engineering and strategic puzzles, underscoring that no regulatory overhaul is ever "straightforward."

The issue of porpoising, a rapid, cyclical vertical oscillation of the car, became a defining characteristic of the 2022 season, particularly for Mercedes’ W13 challenger. It emerged as a direct consequence of the reintroduction of ground effect aerodynamics, which aimed to improve racing by generating downforce primarily from the car’s underbody rather than complex top-side aero elements. The design philosophy of the 2022 cars, with their large underfloor venturi tunnels, relied on maintaining a consistent airflow seal beneath the car to create a low-pressure area that effectively sucked the car to the track. However, at high speeds, this intricate airflow could become unstable.

As the car’s speed increased, the downforce would pull it closer to the ground, increasing the efficiency of the underfloor. This, in turn, would further increase downforce, pulling the car even closer. Eventually, the airflow would become so constricted that it would ‘stall’ or ‘burst,’ causing a sudden loss of downforce. The car would then bounce up, the airflow would reattach, and the cycle would repeat, leading to the severe bouncing motion known as porpoising. This effect was exacerbated by the stiffness required in suspension setups to prevent the floor from hitting the track, which itself could cause violent bottoming out.

Mercedes, a team that had dominated the sport for eight consecutive constructors’ championships prior to 2022, found themselves particularly vulnerable to porpoising with their W13. Both George Russell and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton experienced significant physical discomfort and safety concerns due to the violent oscillations. Russell, in particular, was vocal about the health implications, describing the sensation as akin to a "micro-concussion" with long-term worries about brain damage. The team’s performance suffered markedly as engineers struggled to understand and mitigate the phenomenon without compromising overall aerodynamic performance. This challenge contributed significantly to their dip in competitiveness, as they failed to win a single race in the first half of the 2022 season, a stark contrast to their previous dominance.

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The FIA eventually intervened, introducing technical directives to address safety concerns, including stricter floor deflection tests and a metric to measure vertical acceleration (the Aerodynamic Oscillation Metric, or AOM). These measures aimed to curb the most extreme instances of porpoising, forcing teams to raise their ride heights or adjust their setups, often at the expense of outright performance.

According to Shovlin, the 2026 regulations are designed to prevent a recurrence of these issues. The new cars will feature floor geometry that more closely aligns with designs used prior to 2022, notably incorporating a largely flat floor between the front of the car and the diffuser at the rear. This design characteristic is expected to fundamentally alter the airflow structures underneath the car, making the conditions ripe for porpoising far less likely to occur. "The regulations move back towards the previous generation of cars where you’re unlikely to get the same issues with the porpoising that affected the start of these regs," Shovlin explained.

Even if unforeseen aerodynamic issues were to emerge with the new cars, Shovlin expressed confidence that teams are now far better equipped to handle such phenomena. The intense learning curve and extensive research undertaken since 2022 have significantly advanced engineering understanding and diagnostic tools. "Even if there were problems like that, with what we’ve learned in the intervening period with the tools we’ve developed to understand aerodynamics, we’d be in a better place to deal with it," he affirmed.

However, the Mercedes engineer quickly tempered optimism with a dose of realism, highlighting the inherent complexity of any major regulatory shift in Formula 1. The 2026 regulations represent one of the most significant overhauls in the sport’s history, encompassing not only aerodynamics but also a completely revised power unit formula and chassis dimensions. The power units will feature a 50/50 split between internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrical power, a substantial increase in electrical output from 120kW to 350kW, and the removal of the costly and complex MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat). The cars themselves are expected to be smaller and lighter, potentially incorporating active aerodynamics with movable front and rear wings.

"There’s always going to be traps and there’s always going to be teams that are disappointed with the job they’ve done. You would never walk into a new set of regulations thinking it will be straightforward," Shovlin cautioned. This sentiment reflects the historical pattern in Formula 1, where new rules often lead to unexpected interpretations and competitive shifts. The 2009 season, for instance, saw Brawn GP exploit a loophole with a "double diffuser" design, leading to an unexpected championship victory. Similarly, the hybrid era beginning in 2014 saw Mercedes unlock unparalleled performance, dominating the sport for nearly a decade due to their superior power unit design. Such examples underscore the potential for teams to "trip up on something" as engineers push the boundaries of the new aerodynamic and technical formulas.

Beyond the fundamental design, Shovlin also delved into the strategic implications of the 2026 power unit regulations, particularly concerning energy deployment. George Russell had previously suggested that the new rules could lead to "overtakes in obscure locations," a concept Shovlin further elaborated upon. The significant increase in electrical power, coupled with a focus on energy recovery, will introduce a new layer of strategic variance that could redefine racing dynamics.

Under the 2026 rules, drivers will have to manage their energy reserves meticulously throughout a lap. While a "manual override" system is expected to replace the current Drag Reduction System (DRS), offering a temporary boost of electrical power for overtaking, its deployment will be highly strategic. The energy available for such boosts will not be infinite, necessitating careful conservation and tactical expenditure.

"It’s definitely a big factor in that there is a shortage of energy and you’ve got to do everything you can to harvest as much as possible," Shovlin explained. This dynamic will create "strategic opportunity for the driver so understanding where you can deploy it." Unlike the current DRS system, which typically offers a performance advantage on designated straights, the new energy management system could empower drivers to initiate overtakes or defend in less conventional sections of a circuit.

Shovlin outlined a scenario where a driver might use a burst of energy for an early-lap overtake, only to find themselves vulnerable later on. "There will be examples where it’s relatively easy to pass early on in a lap but you’re going to get retaken later if you actually drove like that," he stated. This intricate balance of attack and defense, dictated by real-time energy management, is anticipated to add a profound strategic dimension to racing. While the energy shortage will be a universal challenge across the grid, the ingenuity in deploying that energy will differentiate drivers and teams.

"It is the way the formula is going to evolve. I don’t think it will be necessarily a massive performance area but it will be a big factor in terms of the strategic racing," Shovlin concluded. This suggests that while overall car performance might not be overwhelmingly defined by energy management alone, its impact on race strategy, overtaking opportunities, and driver skill will be substantial, potentially leading to more unpredictable and engaging races.

As Formula 1 approaches this transformative era, teams like Mercedes, with their rich history of technical innovation and competitive prowess, are already deeply immersed in the complex calculations and simulations required to navigate the new regulations. The promise of an end to porpoising is a welcome relief, particularly for driver well-being, but the road to competitive success in 2026 is paved with new challenges, demanding relentless vigilance and strategic brilliance from every corner of the paddock.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.