Daniel Ricciardo, an Australian driver from the RB VCARB 01 team, participated in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stage 2 of the Formula 1 World Championship, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on September 3, 2024.
James Vowles, the head of the Williams Formula 1 team, expressed his belief that the current ground effect regulations in the sport are not a failure, despite drivers facing increasing challenges when driving in traffic. These regulations were introduced in 2022 with the aim of making it easier for drivers to follow each other in turbulent air, thus creating more overtaking opportunities. Although this was initially successful, three years of developments and updates have resulted in complaints from drivers about the difficulty of following other cars.
The next overhaul of F1 regulations is scheduled for 2026 and, although details have not yet been confirmed, issues of turbulent air and overtaking difficulties will be addressed. James Allison, technical director of Mercedes, recently stated that he believes the latest attempt to control turbulent air through regulatory changes has been extensively tested. However, James Vowles disagreed with this assessment, stating that he does not believe the regulations have failed. He acknowledged that competition in the midfield is intense and that overtakes do happen. He also noted that current cars, despite their challenges, are still an improvement over previous generations. However, he acknowledged that as teams develop their cars to generate more downforce, it becomes harder to follow closely.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s team principal, echoed James Vowles’ sentiment, stating that he does not consider the regulations a failure. He acknowledged that, although one team is dominating, it does not mean that the regulations themselves are unsuccessful.
The return to ground effect cars saw Red Bull and Max Verstappen emerge as a dominant force in F1, with Verstappen clinching his third title in 2023. Mike Krack expressed optimism about the future, stating that there is one more year before the new regulations come into effect. He emphasized the importance of finalizing the regulations by the end of June and not delaying the process, as it represents a significant change for everyone involved in the sport.
