Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has admitted a critical oversight in the recent era of ground-effect cars: they underestimated just how sensitive these machines would be to ride height. This single miscalculation cascaded into a series of problems, from driver discomfort to controversial disqualifications. So, what exactly happened, and what lessons have been learned as we look ahead to the 2026 season?
The FIA has acknowledged that the focus on ground effect for the 2022-2025 regulations inadvertently amplified the impact of 'dirty air,' making it even harder for cars to follow each other closely. While the initial goal was to improve racing, the reality fell short. But here's where it gets controversial... was the focus on ground effect inherently flawed, or could different regulations have mitigated the dirty air issue more effectively? Let us know what you think!
One of the most significant challenges stemmed from the extremely low ride heights required to maximize performance. Teams pushed their cars to run as close to the ground as possible, with very stiff suspensions. This led to a resurgence of 'porpoising' in 2022 – a violent bouncing effect that caused immense discomfort to drivers. And this is the part most people miss... even after teams largely resolved the porpoising issue, the underlying problem of harsh ride quality persisted.
Drivers, including Max Verstappen, openly complained about the physical toll. Verstappen famously remarked that his "whole back is falling apart" after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, highlighting the extreme demands placed on drivers by these low-riding, stiffly suspended cars. Reflecting on this, Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's single-seater director, conceded that the importance of ride height was underestimated.
"The fact that the optimum [ride height] of the cars moved so much lower was a miss in the 2022 regulations," Tombazis stated. He explained that this issue wasn't raised during initial discussions, becoming apparent only shortly before the season began. The FIA admits that they, along with the teams, didn't foresee the impact of such low ride heights. "I wish we had done better there," he added.
Interestingly, the FIA doesn't believe that limiting suspension freedom would have solved the problem. While greater restrictions might have offered different options to teams, they wouldn't have fundamentally altered the need for low ride heights to achieve peak performance.
This leads to another critical consequence: increased scrutiny on plank wear. Because cars were running so close to the track surface, the plank – a wooden or composite piece underneath the car – was subjected to extreme wear. This became a major point of contention, leading to disqualifications, such as at the 2023 US Grand Prix.
The process of checking plank wear proved to be time-consuming and complex, especially considering the varying floor and skid block designs employed by different teams. This raises the question: would further standardization of these components have simplified the FIA's job? Tombazis acknowledges the potential benefits of standardization, but also emphasizes the importance of allowing teams to innovate and differentiate themselves.
"All of these problems would go away the more we go towards a standard car... But clearly, we want Formula 1 to be a technological battle as well," Tombazis explained. He highlighted the need to balance regulatory control with the desire to maintain F1 as a platform for cutting-edge engineering. He also pointed out that teams had different approaches to reliability, further complicating the standardization of plank designs. Some teams prioritized a more robust design, while others were concerned about the potential impact on other components, such as the engine or ERS systems.
Looking ahead to 2026, the FIA anticipates that ride height and plank wear will be less critical factors. The new regulations feature a simpler floor design, which should reduce the reliance on extreme ground effect. This, in turn, is expected to raise the optimal ride height and minimize the risk of porpoising.
"We believe it is very unlikely to have similar characteristics because of a much flatter floor," Tombazis said. The FIA is optimistic that the 2026 regulations will address the issues that plagued the previous era of ground-effect cars.
However, the FIA remains cautious, acknowledging the unforeseen side effects that have emerged in recent years. While confident that the new regulations are inherently less prone to these problems, they won't rule out the possibility of unexpected challenges arising once the cars hit the track.
So, what do you think? Will the 2026 regulations truly solve the issues of ride height sensitivity, plank wear, and dirty air? Or are we destined to see a new set of unforeseen challenges emerge? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
