2024 Season — Regulations

The Ground Effect Era brought the biggest aerodynamic rules change in 40 years: the reintroduction of ground effect aerodynamics through venturi tunnels under the floor. The 2022 regulations were designed to reduce "dirty air" and allow cars to follow more closely, improving racing quality. The cars also switched to 18-inch wheels (from 13-inch) and incorporated a simplified front wing and a new rear wing design. The early 2022 season was marked by "porpoising" — an aerodynamic phenomenon where cars bounced violently at high speed due to the ground effect stalls. Teams gradually solved the issue through setup changes and floor modifications, though it remained a factor throughout the year. Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated the era. Verstappen won his first championship in 2022, then produced one of the most dominant seasons in F1 history in 2023, winning 19 of 22 races. The cost cap ($135M from 2023) helped level the competitive field, though Red Bull's technical advantage remained substantial. Sprint races expanded to 6 events per season from 2023, with a new "Sprint Shootout" qualifying format (SQ1/SQ2/SQ3 at 12/10/8 minutes). The 2022 Belgian GP was the first race to use the new graduated scale for shortened races (replacing the old half-points system), after the controversial 2021 Belgian GP. Engine allocation expanded to 4 power units per season (2024-2025) to accommodate the growing calendar.