Toto Wolff: "no holy cow" to solve Mercedes struggles

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has claimed there is "no holy cow" to solve the Silver Arrows' porpoising problems.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have suffered more than most drivers with the bouncing phenomenon caused by the ground-effect technology of this year's F1 machinery.

In Azerbaijan, Hamilton suffered so severely with back pain that Wolff suggested the seven-time champion may be forced to sit out this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, a fear that has since been quashed.

Mercedes' unique disappearing sidepod concept is one reason behind the bouncing, as it leaves a chunk of the floor supported by only a single strake, meaning the team is unable to control its flexing as well as championship leaders Red Bull.

The FIA has now introduced measures to quell the level of porpoising on the grounds of safety, although they are not expected to help Mercedes in the short term.

“I think we are looking at all possible solutions under the leadership of Mike Elliot," said Wolff. "He is a really strong technical director.

"There is no holy cow. Everything is being looked at and we will, for sure, bring the car back on track.

“If things cannot be solved in the short-term because they are conceptual then it will be sorted out in the next few months.”

Mercedes porpoising and bouncing "linked"

Mercedes had hoped its porpoising issues might be fixed with a major upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Although the changes appeared to work in Barcelona, Monaco highlighted the stiffness of the W13's suspension as another bouncing problem revealed itself, with Azerbaijan revealing another weakness.

Wolff previously described Mercedes as "specialists in bouncing", such are the problems.

“I think they are very much linked together," conceded Wolff.

"We are seeing tracks where we have aero porpoising, then we have bouncing, and then some cars are bottoming.

“So, it’s not really clear. It’s all interlinked with the aerodynamic performance of the floor.”

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