As Formula 1 heads full speed into the 2025 season, fans and teams are gearing up for what could be one of the most hotly contested championships in years. With Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all tied after a thrilling end to the 2024 season, there is every reason to expect sparks at the top. But beneath the surface lies a growing problem that threatens to disrupt the spectacle: the dirty air crisis in sports.
The once-celebrated promise of closer racing brought by ground-effect cars in 2022 has gradually deteriorated, leaving drivers battling not only their rivals but also turbulence, overheating tires and compromised lift. The figures paint a grim picture: exceedances have fallen to 788 passes in 2024compared to 858 in 2023, despite a longer schedule. This decline has sparked serious concerns over whether the 2025 F1 season will live up to its promise as a modern classic.
From dream to dilemma: The evolution of ground effect cars
When F1 introduced ground effect regulations in 2022, the aim was clear: to allow drivers to follow each other more closely and encourage wheel-to-wheel battles. For a while it worked. Drivers praised the improvement in their ability to keep up with their competitors, and fans appreciated a boost in drama on the track.
But over the past two seasons, teams have pushed aerodynamic development in directions that prioritize performance over race-fighting ability. Key areas like front wing tip boards, floor edges, diffuser designs and front wheel furnishings have evolved to generate more downforce—but at the expense of cleaner air for the cars that follow.
This created a double-edged sword : Cars not only lose grip when following closely, but they also overheat their tires, making sustained battles nearly impossible.
Drivers say: “It's like driving through a storm”
The growing frustration among pilots has been palpable. From losing downforce to battling tire overheating, many have expressed concerns about the current state of the race.
At the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Oscar Piastri's wild moment behind Yuki Tsunoda highlighted just how treacherous the turbulent air had become. “It's like driving through a storm,” one driver lamented after the race.
The data confirms this: overtakes per race fell to 32.8 in 2024compared to 39 in 2023. When adjusted for consistent runs over the past three seasons, the trend is even more pronounced: 741 passes in 2022 fell to just 636 in 2024.
FIA Admits Its Mistakes
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's single-seater director, acknowledged the shortcomings of the current regulations. “We believe that certain areas of the car were not as strictly regulated as they should have been,” he said, pointing out flaws that allowed teams to develop air-generating components. disturbed.
The FIA is now focused on learning from these mistakes, with promises of a better performance in terms of disturbed air under the 2026 regulations. New concepts like flow boarddesigned to alleviate disturbed air from the front wheels, should significantly improve the situation.
Will 2025 Live Up to Fans' Expectations?
Although there is optimism for a hotly contested 2025 championship, the dirty air problem could tarnish the spectacle. Teams are unlikely to forgo developments that generate disturbed air, and even tire compound improvements for 2025 are unlikely to fully offset the challenges.
Pirelli's head of F1, Mario Isola, highlighted the necessary balance: “If we reduce the degradation too much, everyone can push, but the strategies become one-dimensional. Unfortunately, the leader benefits more from open air, making the task of the cars behind even more difficult.”
A Flash of Hope for 2026
As the outlook for 2025 remains uncertain, the FIA is committed to ensuring the next era of F1 delivers on its promise. THE 2026 regulations aim to fill the gaps and create cars that generate far less turbulent air, potentially bringing the sport closer to its vision of intense, wheel-to-wheel racing.
As Tombazis summarized: “We believe that 2026 cars will be significantly better in aspiration, and will even exceed 2022 levels when these regulations were first introduced.”
Time is running out
With the 2025 season fast approaching, the stakes have never been higher. Will F1's top teams deliver a season to remember, or will the dirty air dilemma deprive fans of the breathtaking battles they crave? One thing is certain: the championship fight might not be the only battle F1 faces this year.
