ADVERTISEMENT
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

FIA’s shocking admission: key flaws in ground-effect F1 era cars exposed at last

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
January 1, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
FIA’s shocking admission: key flaws in ground-effect F1 era cars exposed at last
ADVERTISEMENT

FIA’s Jaw-Dropping Admission: Ground-Effect Era Flaws Exposed!

In a shocking revelation that has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community, FIA’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, has candidly acknowledged a monumental oversight during the tumultuous ground-effect era of Formula 1. This admission comes on the heels of the recent conclusion of the controversial four-year car cycle, which ended at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leaving a trail of discontent among fans and drivers alike.

Prominent figures in F1, including the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, have not held back in their criticisms, labeling this period as one rife with issues. Their denunciations echo the collective frustration felt by many as they reflect on the extreme porpoising and severe plank wear that plagued the racing landscape. The ramifications of these flaws forced teams to make drastic changes to their ride height—changes that led to costly miscalculations and even disqualifications for leading teams like Ferrari and McLaren in 2025.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tombazis did not mince words when he expressed regret over the FIA’s failure to foresee these critical flaws. “The fact that the optimum [ride height] of the cars moved so much lower was a miss in the 2022 regulations,” he confessed. “It’s something that we missed — and not only us but also the teams. In all discussions, nobody raised that issue. It was something that became obvious very, very close to the start of the championship, when it was too late to change the regulations.” His admission underscores a significant lapse in judgment that many believe should have been a priority.

Moreover, the challenge of porpoising—a phenomenon that wreaked havoc on car performance—has not fully disappeared. While Tombazis acknowledged improvements, he lamented, “I wish we had done better there.” He did, however, dismiss the notion that stricter suspension regulations would have mitigated the problem, asserting that they “don’t believe that suspension changes would have had a first-order effect.”

As the motorsport world now shifts its eyes toward the future, questions loom large over whether the new generation of F1 cars, set to debut in 2026, will escape the clutches of porpoising altogether. Tombazis remains cautiously optimistic, stating, “We believe it is very unlikely to have similar characteristics because of a much flatter floor.” He elaborated that the new designs will not exhibit the same pronounced downforce increase at lower ride heights that characterized their predecessors.

Nonetheless, he tempered this optimism with a note of caution, acknowledging that until the new cars hit the track for the first time in Barcelona later this month and Bahrain in February, nothing is guaranteed. “When the cars run for the very first time and have some issue, I wouldn’t exclude it,” he warned. “But I would say that the rules are inherently less in that direction.”

As the FIA grapples with the fallout of its past miscalculations, one thing is clear: the motorsport community is watching closely. With the promise of a new era on the horizon, fans and teams alike will be eager to see if the lessons learned from the ground-effect debacle will pave the way for a more stable and thrilling future in Formula 1 racing.

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-football-season2025-mclaren-f1-championshipaf-corse-ferrariLewis Hamiltonmax-verstappen-en
Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

F1 2026 season preview: explosive rivalries, groundbreaking rules, and the legends on the brink
Motorsports

F1 2026 season preview: explosive rivalries, groundbreaking rules, and the legends on the brink

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Publisher
January 1, 2026
Gabriel Bortoleto credits Max Verstappen’s pivotal advice in his journey to Formula 1 stardom
Motorsports

Gabriel Bortoleto credits Max Verstappen’s pivotal advice in his journey to Formula 1 stardom

Formula One F1 - Pre Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 26, 2025 Red Bull's Max...

by Redação
January 1, 2026
F1 2026’s radical transformation: drivers compare new cars to rally machines in stunning shift
Motorsports

F1 2026’s radical transformation: drivers compare new cars to rally machines in stunning shift

F1 2026: The Groundbreaking Revolution That Will Change Racing Forever! Get ready, motorsport fans! The racing universe is on the...

by Miguel Cunha
January 1, 2026
Max Verstappen’s heartfelt bond with Christian Horner endures after shocking Red Bull sacking
Motorsports

Max Verstappen’s heartfelt bond with Christian Horner endures after shocking Red Bull sacking

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Miguel Cunha
January 1, 2026

Recent News

F1 2026 season preview: explosive rivalries, groundbreaking rules, and the legends on the brink

F1 2026 season preview: explosive rivalries, groundbreaking rules, and the legends on the brink

January 1, 2026
Gabriel Bortoleto credits Max Verstappen’s pivotal advice in his journey to Formula 1 stardom

Gabriel Bortoleto credits Max Verstappen’s pivotal advice in his journey to Formula 1 stardom

January 1, 2026
F1 2026’s radical transformation: drivers compare new cars to rally machines in stunning shift

F1 2026’s radical transformation: drivers compare new cars to rally machines in stunning shift

January 1, 2026
Max Verstappen’s heartfelt bond with Christian Horner endures after shocking Red Bull sacking

Max Verstappen’s heartfelt bond with Christian Horner endures after shocking Red Bull sacking

January 1, 2026

Newsletter

ADVERTISEMENT

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.