What is ground effect in F1 and why does it disappear in 2026?
The floor tunnels glued the car to the tarmac from 2022 to 2025. In 2026 they disappear: the floor is flatter and the diffuser much bigger. What it is, how it works and what makes up for it.
Summary
- Ground effect is a suction: air passing fast through the tunnels under the car lowers the pressure and sticks it to the tarmac.
- Since 2022 cars had those tunnels; in 2026 they disappear, the floor is flatter and the rear diffuser is much bigger.
- With less suction from the floor, active wings do more work to give grip in corners and low drag on straights.
- 1
The 2022-2025 floor
The cars had tunnels under the floor that accelerated the air passing underneath.
- 2
Fast air lowers the pressure
That accelerated air makes the pressure under the car drop.
- 3
And the car sticks to the ground
With less pressure below than above, the car is sucked onto the tarmac: that is ground effect.
- 4
In 2026 the tunnels disappear
The floor is flatter and the rear diffuser much bigger.
- 5
The suction drops sharply
Without the tunnels, the floor no longer sticks the car to the tarmac as much.
- 6
Active wings make up for it
To compensate, active wings: one mode for corners, with more grip, and one for straights, with less drag.
Where to see it on Formuradar
Did you get it?
Glossary
- Ground effect
- A suction that sticks the car to the tarmac: air passing very fast through the floor tunnels lowers the pressure and pushes the car down. Used from 2022 to 2025.
- Diffuser
- A rear part of the floor that widens and slows the air leaving from underneath the car. In 2026 it is much bigger.
- Active aerodynamics
- Front and rear wings that move on their own between a low-drag position (straights) and a high-downforce one (corners). One of the 2026 novelties.
Sources
- The floor's Venturi tunnels are removed in 2026: the floor is flatter and the rear diffuser much bigger, so ground effect is greatly reduced. Formula1.com · 2026 regulations explained: all you need to know about F1's new aerodynamics
- To compensate, active wings have two modes: Corner, with more downforce, and Straight, with less drag. Formula1.com · 2026 regulations explained: all you need to know about F1's new aerodynamics
- Downforce-loss figures are not given here: Formula1.com does not publish a specific percentage of the ground effect that is lost. Formula1.com · 2026 regulations explained: all you need to know about F1's new aerodynamics
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Valid for: 2026 regulations. The explanations are popular-level: for the exact rules, check the FIA sporting regulations.
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