Why the 2022 Formula 1 technical regulations failed amid lack of excitement

The Japanese Grand Prix, just like the two previous rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 championship (the last under the technical regulations introduced in 2022), proved once again to be lacking in excitement. Carlos Sainz‘s comments after the race, when he compared the Suzuka circuit to Monaco for the impossibility of overtaking, should prompt reflection. There were very few overtakes, but what happened at Suzuka is not an isolated case. Many variables influence a Grand Prix: tyres are playing an increasingly central role, as are circuit layouts, asphalt grip, technical directives, and the wide performance gaps between teams. However, the root issue remains the cars themselves.

Did the 2022 regulations fail?
When the 2022 regulations were introduced, the objective was clear: allow drivers to follow each other more closely and increase overtaking opportunities by reducing sensitivity to the dirty air produced by cars in front. The 2022 cars, in fact, simplified in shape and designed to generate most of their aerodynamic load through ground effect via the floor, were supposed to release a cleaner and less turbulent wake of air compared to the past.

But the question arises: did the FIA really succeed in its goal? The answer, at least today, is negative. Yet, at the beginning of this new regulatory era, a slight improvement had been observed. However, as the seasons progressed, the on-track spectacle gradually diminished. Why?

The answer lies in technical evolution. The cars have improved exponentially in terms of performance compared to 2022, and with that has come increased reliance on aerodynamics. As a result, clean air has become ever more essential for the proper functioning of aerodynamic components. When a car is in the slipstream of another, it enters a zone of turbulent air that compromises aerodynamic efficiency, reducing downforce and thus cornering speed. This increases tyre stress, as they begin to degrade faster due to the lack of aerodynamic grip. So, the more performant and aerodynamically efficient a car is, the more it suffers when deprived of clean air.

The challenge of Formula 1
Unfortunately, this will remain a permanent limitation of Formula 1: at certain speeds, the slipstream will always exist, and no matter how much work is done to reduce sensitivity to dirty air, its effects can never be completely eliminated. It’s a paradox that makes this sport both fascinating and problematic. The cars are extremely complex, and behind each one are engineers pushing the limits of their knowledge, often finding grey areas in the regulations. It is precisely these grey areas that have allowed teams to introduce perfectly legal solutions that go against the spirit of the FIA regulations, widening the performance gap between teams and forcing the federation to constantly update the technical rules.

The problem lies in the fact that, by exploiting grey areas of the rules, engineers have managed to emulate concepts banned by the new regulations, such as the use of aerodynamic vortices, which since 2022 have been minimized in order to clean up the air wake.

The future of Formula 1
As mentioned, Formula 1 is the product of the brilliant minds of engineers who push every possible concept to the extreme, making it the most fascinating racing category. For this reason, one possible solution could be the standardization of a good portion of components across all teams, but that would be a major blow to a sport that has built its strength on innovation and experimentation.

In recent years, these problems and possible solutions have been widely discussed: the shortcomings of the current cars are well known and not few. The FIA has also stepped in, drafting a new set of technical regulations for 2026. However, only when we see the new cars on track will we be able to truly assess the effectiveness of these choices, which currently still raise many questions. The idea behind the 2022 regulations was not entirely wrong, but it was likely poorly managed and, in light of the results, can now be seen as a missed opportunity—if not an outright failure.

That does not mean that there won’t be exciting races in 2025: there will be, just as there have been in past seasons. Sometimes thanks to favourable circuits, other times due to unexpected events, incidents, or unpredictable situations. However, Formula 1 cannot and must not rely solely on external factors to guarantee entertainment.