The ground-effect era in Formula 1 has officially come to an end: beyond Max Verstappen, let’s take a look at which other drivers managed to dominate during this period.
In 2026, a new chapter begins in Formula 1, officially bidding farewell to the era of ground-effect cars. Veteran drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso will once again witness a major shift in the technical regulations.
In the past, when Mercedes dominated the pinnacle of motorsport, the British driver was able to enjoy six world titles, with one of them having been won at McLaren back in 2008. When ground effect returned in 2022, however, the Silver Arrows were the team most heavily affected by the new regulations. Everyone clearly remembers the complaints from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell about a car that “was bouncing” due to aerodynamic issues.
Four years of criticism, debate and controversy have now officially come to an end. And if you think the new technical regulations will be completely different, you would be mistaken. But that is another story.
Let’s take a step back and look at how many podium finishes were achieved by those who dominated the ground-effect era in Formula 1. At the top of the list stands Max Verstappen, unstoppable from 2022 to 2025, considering that for three consecutive years he won three of his four world titles.
Ferrari can also smile, because over these four years its drivers have always managed to reach the podium. This happened with the successful Leclerc–Sainz pairing between 2022 and 2024. Last year, only the Monegasque driver managed to bring seven podium finishes to the Scuderia, while Lewis Hamilton, in his debut season in red, ended the year with an extremely negative record. For the first time in his Formula 1 career, the British driver failed to step onto the podium even once in a full season.
All the drivers who reached the podium in the ground-effect era
Max Verstappen – 67 podiums
Lando Norris – 39 podiums
Charles Leclerc – 37 podiums
Oscar Piastri – 26 podiums
Sergio Pérez – 24 podiums
Carlos Sainz – 23 podiums
George Russell – 23 podiums
Lewis Hamilton – 20 podiums
Fernando Alonso – 8 podiums
Kimi Antonelli – 3 podiums
Esteban Ocon – 2 podiums
Pierre Gasly – 2 podiums
Nico Hülkenberg – 1 podium
Isack Hadjar – 1 podium
As Formula 1 stands on the threshold of a new technical era, the shift from ground-effect dominance to the unknown regulations of 2026 marks a pivotal moment for veterans and rookies alike. Whether through the emergence of new talents or the final statistical tallies of the current era, these developments highlight the relentless pace of change that continues to define the pinnacle of motorsport.
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