Pierre Gasly Sounds Alarm on Health Risks: The Dark Side of F1’s Ground-Effect Era Exposed!
In a bold and blistering critique, Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has unleashed a scathing denunciation of the health hazards faced by racers during the tumultuous ground-effect era. With the regulation cycle that spanned four years finally concluding at the end of the 2025 season, drivers are voicing their pent-up frustrations about the relentless physical toll these high-speed machines have imposed on them.
From the moment these new cars hit the track in 2022, a sinister phenomenon known as ‘porpoising’ became a staple of the race weekend experience, with drivers bouncing violently on the asphalt. Gasly, who is gearing up for his ninth season in 2026 after completing an arduous eighth season, warns that the extreme level of vehicle movement could result in long-lasting repercussions for the drivers’ health.
“The one thing we haven’t really been too happy as drivers is just the amount of bouncing,” Gasly lamented. “Obviously, ground effect cars need to run as low as you can, but physically for our backs, I think we all agree that it’s been rough. It’s not sustainable over like a full career, so I think that’s a good thing, that they sort of moved away from it.”
Gasly’s concerns are echoed by fellow competitors, including reigning champion Max Verstappen and emerging star Oliver Bearman, both of whom have openly expressed their discomfort stemming from the brutal bouncing caused by the cars. The infamous 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw the legendary Lewis Hamilton recount his own harrowing experience, revealing that he was “praying for the race to end” while grappling with the agony inflicted by extreme porpoising. The seven-time World Champion even struggled to free himself from his Mercedes after crossing the finish line, a stark testament to the physical strain these athletes are enduring.
Adding fuel to the fire, Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, has publicly acknowledged that the porpoising issue was a significant oversight during the drafting of the regulations. As the 2026 rulebook introduces new aerodynamic features aimed at banishing ground-effect cars to the history books, Tombazis cautioned that the specter of porpoising may not be entirely vanquished.
The countdown to a safer future in Formula 1 is on, but the scars of the ground-effect era are indelibly etched in the memories of its drivers. As Gasly and his counterparts continue to battle against the physical toll of their sport, the conversation surrounding driver health and safety will undoubtedly intensify. The world watches as Formula 1 races towards reform, but the question remains: at what cost?








