Mercedes technical director James Allison expressed his discontent with the ground effect regulations in Formula 1, characterizing them as a personal concern.
Allison anticipates that Max Verstappen, who has dominated the ground effect era with Red Bull, is unlikely to appreciate these regulations either.
The Formula 1 landscape underwent a regulatory overhaul in 2022, aiming to tighten competition and enhance overtaking opportunities. This led to the introduction of a new generation of cars utilizing ground effect aerodynamics for increased downforce.
According to Allison, the key to optimizing ground effect is to keep the car as low to the ground as possible, a direction he deems unfavorable for the series. Despite Verstappen’s and Red Bull’s success in this era, Allison doubts Verstappen’s satisfaction with the current F1 cars.
Allison compared the current ground effect cars to their predecessors, highlighting a drastic decrease in rear ride height. He expressed concerns about the one-dimensional nature of these cars, particularly in diverse tracks like Austin, where a car needs to excel in various conditions.
Verstappen, echoing Allison’s sentiments, criticized the stiffness of the ground effect cars during the 2023 Miami Grand Prix media session. He mentioned that the rigid setup diminishes the “magic” of the driving experience, particularly on street circuits like Baku and Singapore, where riding curbs becomes challenging.
Despite Verstappen’s criticism, he remains a formidable force on the track and aims to secure a fourth World Championship in the 2024 F1 season.
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