Dec.18 (GMM) FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis admits Formula 1’s latest ground-effect regulations lost effectiveness over time, but insists the sweeping 2026 reset should deliver closer racing for longer.
Speaking as part of the FIA’s detailed presentation of the new rules, Tombazis acknowledged that the 2022-era cars initially solved major overtaking problems – before teams gradually engineered their way back to dirty air.
“The 2022 cars started off with a significant improvement in their wake characteristics,” Tombazis explained. “Downforce at approximately 20 metres behind went from about 50 percent on the previous generation of cars to about 80 or 85pc to start with.
“And then that gradually decayed during the regulation cycle to what it is now, where we are probably talking about 70pc.”
The FIA believes the new 2026 cars will reset that trend.
“We believe that the start of the new cycle will be more like 90 percent – better than it’s ever been,” Tombazis said.
He pointed to lessons learned from how teams exploited loopholes over the past four seasons, particularly around outwash.
“The front wing endplates morphed into shapes that permitted quite a lot of outwash, while the inside of the front brake drums also worsened the characteristics, as did the side of the floor,” Tombazis said.
“We learned a lot from that and in developing the regulations for 2026 we hope we will maintain the good characteristics for a longer period or hopefully not have this decay again.”
The 2026 regulations introduce smaller, lighter cars, simplified aerodynamics, active front and rear wings, and a new energy-based overtaking system – with the FIA confident the combined package will address both racing quality and sustainability.
While laptimes are expected to initially fall, Tombazis stressed the primary objective is closer competition.
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