THE ONGOING SAGA OF Mercedes’ 2022 difficulties received its first positive upturn in Barcelona. The introduction of a new floor largely banished the car’s previous porpoising-induced limitation. That still didn’t put it quite on Red Bull or Ferrari performance levels, but provided a very solid foundation for the team to build upon. No longer was setting up the car only about increasing the rear ride height (surrendering a lot of downforce in the process) until the, the ride height could be run much more closely to its design ideal.
