The Greatest Technical Innovations of Formula 1’s Ground-Effect Era

As Formula 1 heads into the summer shutdown of the 2025 season, only ten races remain in what has been one of the most divisive technical chapters in the sport’s history — the ground-effect era. Introduced in 2022, these regulations were intended to improve racing by reintroducing aerodynamic principles that pull the car to the track from underneath, allowing for closer following.

While the era has had its share of disappointments, it has also produced some of the most radical and creative technical concepts seen in decades. Teams have pushed the boundaries of aerodynamics, suspension geometry, and cooling architecture — sometimes succeeding spectacularly, sometimes falling victim to the brutal reality that theory doesn’t always translate to track performance.

As we pause for the summer break, it’s the perfect moment to revisit the standout innovations that have defined this regulatory cycle — from the audacious “zero-pod” experiment, to Ferrari’s “bathtub” sidepods, McLaren’s game-changing brake duct system, and the eye-catching “water slides.”

Mercedes and the Bold Zero-Pod Concept (2022)

When Mercedes unveiled their 2022 W13 during pre-season testing, the paddock was stunned. Gone were the conventional, sculpted sidepods seen on every other car. Instead, Mercedes produced a design so tightly packaged it looked almost pod-less — earning the nickname “zero pods.”

The concept was born from promising wind-tunnel and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data during the winter of 2021–2022. In theory, removing the large sidepods would reduce frontal area, cut drag, and free up airflow to the rear of the car for improved diffuser performance.

In practice, the zero-pod car suffered a major flaw: porpoising. The violent vertical bouncing, caused by oscillations in the underfloor aerodynamics, was more severe for Mercedes than for any other team. Drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton endured bruising rides, with Hamilton notably struggling to climb out of the car after the Baku Grand Prix.

Ironically, despite its well-publicised struggles, the W13 remains Mercedes’ most successful ground-effect car to date. Across the 2022 season, it achieved 17 podiums — more than any of its successors — and posted the highest average points per race of the era so far. It remains a testament to both the boldness and the risk of Formula 1 innovation.

Ferrari’s Bathtub Sidepods (2022–2023)

If Mercedes’ approach was to slim the sidepods into oblivion, Ferrari went in the opposite direction. Their 2022 F1-75 featured deeply recessed sidepod channels, earning the nickname “bathtub pods.” The concept aimed to funnel airflow in a wide, controlled path along the car’s flanks, improving cooling efficiency and rear-end stability.

Early on, it worked. Charles Leclerc won multiple races in the first part of 2022, and Ferrari appeared locked in a genuine title battle with Max Verstappen and Red Bull. However, a mid-season update to the technical regulations — targeting porpoising — disrupted the car’s finely tuned aerodynamics. Performance dropped, and Ferrari’s championship hopes faded.

The Scuderia persisted with the bathtub pods into 2023, but results plateaued. By the Spanish Grand Prix, the team admitted defeat, shifting toward a more conventional down-washing sidepod design used by most of the grid. The bathtub experiment was over, but it remains one of the most visually distinctive cars of the ground-effect era.

McLaren’s 2025 Front Brake Duct Revolution

The 2025 season has delivered perhaps the single most talked-about innovation of the entire era — McLaren’s front brake duct and suspension arrangement on the MCL39. This clever design has been the subject of countless technical breakdowns online, and for good reason: it directly influences tyre performance, aerodynamic efficiency, and race-day pace.

Traditionally, the lower wishbone of a Formula 1 front suspension converges into a single element before attaching to the wheel assembly. McLaren’s 2025 design keeps the two lower elements separate, creating what engineers call a “virtual steering axis.” This arrangement allows subtle, dynamic changes to the wheel’s toe angle — both on straights and in corners — without the need for a banned mechanical system like Mercedes’ 2020 DAS.

The benefits are two-fold:

Tyre Temperature Control – Adjusting toe angle changes how much the tyre scrubs against the track, helping maintain its temperature in the optimal window.

Drag Reduction – On straights, minimising toe angle reduces rolling resistance, boosting top speed.

The impact was most visible at the damp-dry Australian Grand Prix, where both McLarens were consistently seconds quicker than rivals on a drying track. This system has quickly become one of the defining technical talking points of 2025 — and will almost certainly face scrutiny from the FIA.

The Water Slides: Aston Martin and McLaren (2023)

In 2023, Aston Martin and McLaren introduced a unique cooling and airflow concept that quickly became known as the “water slide.” The design featured a dramatic channel in the upper bodywork, directing airflow in a controlled descent toward the rear of the car.

The visual similarity to a water park attraction was striking, but the purpose was pure performance. By accelerating airflow down the slide, teams could energise the air headed for the beam wing and diffuser, increasing rear-end downforce without adding drag. The concept drew loose parallels to the exhaust-blown diffusers of 2010–2013, though here the effect was purely aerodynamic rather than exhaust-driven.

Both teams enjoyed strong seasons with the concept. Aston Martin’s AMR23 challenged Red Bull in the early races, with Fernando Alonso taking multiple podiums and even coming close to victory in Monaco before a strategic tyre choice cost him the win. McLaren’s mid-season upgrades also helped them surge toward the front of the midfield, partly thanks to the water slide concept’s stability benefits.

Innovation in an Era of Limitations

One of the defining features of the ground-effect era has been the way it has both encouraged and constrained innovation. The regulations were designed to limit extreme aerodynamic outliers, yet as the examples above show, engineers have still found ways to think creatively within the rules.

Some ideas, like the zero-pods and bathtub sidepods, pushed packaging and cooling concepts to extremes — often with mixed results. Others, like McLaren’s brake ducts, explored suspension geometry in a way that skirted the edge of legality but unlocked measurable gains. And the water slides demonstrated that even cooling inlets and bodywork shapes could be exploited for downforce generation.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the final ten races of the 2025 season approach, there is a sense among fans and teams alike that the ground-effect experiment has been as frustrating as it has been fascinating. While we have seen flashes of brilliance, the overall competitive balance has often been skewed, and some teams have struggled to escape the midfield.

The 2026 regulations promise a clean slate, with new aerodynamic rules, lighter cars, and revised power unit specifications. For engineers, it will be another opportunity to make a bold first impression — and for fans, another chance to witness the kind of technical creativity that makes Formula 1 as much an engineering contest as a sporting one.

When the ground-effect era is finally consigned to history, these innovations — from zero pods to brake ducts — will be remembered not just for their on-track impact, but for the daring ambition they represent. In Formula 1, the pursuit of speed will always inspire designs that challenge convention, sometimes fail spectacularly, and occasionally change the game entirely.