Ground effect will not disappear with the arrival of the 2026 Formula 1 cars. It will still be present, although in a different form compared to the current generation of machines.
The new 2026 regulations represent the biggest rule change in the history of Formula 1, introducing technical shifts that will reshape both performance and design philosophy. While the upcoming hybrid power units have been the most discussed change, aerodynamics will also undergo a dramatic transformation. Among the key adjustments will be the arrival of active aerodynamics and, at the same time, the removal of the underfloor Venturi tunnels. The cars will return to a flat floor design, similar to what Formula 1 used before the 2022 ground effect era began.
This move has led many to assume that ground effect will vanish. In reality, the principle will continue to exist, though in a less aggressive form. To understand why, it is important to recap the difference between the current floor design and the one coming in 2026, as well as to clarify what “ground effect” really means.
The differences between the 2022 floor and the 2026 floor
Since 2022, Formula 1 cars have featured Venturi channels built into the floor. These channels accelerate airflow beneath the car, creating a low-pressure zone that generates aerodynamic downforce. Cars that exploit this concept are described as “ground effect cars,” because they extract much of their grip from the underbody rather than from large wings.
From 2026 onward, the cars will be smaller, simpler, and designed with reduced aerodynamic load in order to improve wheel-to-wheel racing. The Venturi tunnels will disappear, and the floor will be flat in the central section, although it will still be combined with a relatively large diffuser at the rear. This raises the question: will ground effect vanish completely? The answer is no.
Will the 2026 Formula 1 cars still use ground effect?
Ground effect occurs when a racing car travels at extremely high speed while maintaining a very small ride height, essentially “squeezing” the airflow between the car and the track surface. Even a flat floor, if positioned close to the asphalt, can act like a channel that accelerates airflow and reduces pressure beneath the car. The resulting pressure difference generates downforce, pressing the car more firmly onto the track.
The diffuser plays a key role in amplifying this process. By expanding and accelerating the airflow at the rear of the car, the diffuser strengthens the ground effect and stabilizes the car at speed. While a flat floor produces less downforce compared to a Venturi tunnel floor, it still contributes meaningfully to the overall aerodynamic load. Therefore, it would be incorrect to claim that ground effect will no longer exist after 2026.
There are recent examples that confirm this. In 2021, when Formula 1 cars still featured flat floors, the FIA introduced modifications to reduce performance levels in the hope of producing closer racing. The governing body cut away part of the floor’s edges, which reduced the aerodynamic efficiency. Even then, with no Venturi tunnels, ground effect was still a crucial factor in performance.
In fact, ground effect has always been present in some form since aerodynamics entered Formula 1. It was taken to its extreme in the late 1970s, when teams like Lotus maximized its potential to unprecedented levels. Because of its immense efficiency, the FIA repeatedly sought to regulate and restrict its use, first with the mandatory flat floors introduced in the 1980s, and later with further aerodynamic restrictions. Yet even with those rules, the high speeds of Formula 1 machinery have ensured that ground effect never disappeared completely.
As the 2026 era approaches, ground effect will once again be reshaped. The return of flat floors may reduce its strength compared to the 2022–2025 generation, but the principle will remain an integral part of how Formula 1 cars generate grip and stability at extreme speeds.
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