FIA Admits to 'Misses' in Ground Effect Regulations, Aims for Fixes in 2026

The FIA is openly acknowledging that the 2022-2025 ground effect regulations weren't perfect, admitting they underestimated how extreme car designs would become. Single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis conceded that the governing body "missed" the critical importance of ultra-low ride heights, which led to the persistent porpoising and physical driver complaints that have plagued the era.

Why it matters:

These "misses" had tangible consequences on the grid, impacting driver well-being, creating controversial scrutineering issues, and failing to fully solve the dirty air problem the regulations were designed to eliminate. The FIA's candid self-assessment provides crucial context for the philosophy behind the sweeping 2026 rule changes, aiming to prevent a repeat of these unforeseen problems.

The details:

• Ride Height Oversight: Tombazis stated that the optimal ride height of the current cars moving "so much lower was a miss in the 2022 regulations." He noted that neither the FIA nor the teams anticipated this issue during the initial discussions.
• Porpoising Regrets: The initial porpoising that dominated the 2022 pre-season was a major unforeseen problem. "I wish we had done better there," Tombazis admitted, though he noted teams have since managed to mitigate it significantly.
• Driver Discomfort: The need to run cars extremely low and stiff led to physical issues for drivers, with Max Verstappen famously complaining in Las Vegas that his "back is falling apart."
• Plank Wear Controversies: The extreme ride heights led to a focus on plank wear, resulting in high-profile disqualifications, such as for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the 2023 US GP and recent scrutiny on McLaren in Las Vegas.
• The Technology Balance: The FIA rejected suggestions that more standardized parts would be a simple fix. Tombazis explained that while standardization could solve issues like plank wear, the FIA must preserve F1 as a "technological battle" and not a "single car with different stickers on it."

What's next:

The 2026 regulations are specifically designed to address these core issues, with the FIA confident that a repeat of the porpoising crisis is unlikely.

• The new cars will feature a much simpler and flatter floor, reducing the ground effect compared to the current generation.
• This design change is intended to push the optimal ride height higher, naturally preventing the aerodynamic instability that causes porpoising.
• Tombazis believes it is "very unlikely to have similar characteristics," but he remains cautious, noting that unforeseen issues can always emerge when the new cars hit the track for the first time.