Source:REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
[Saba Sports News] According to motorsport.com, Stephen Knowles, the sporting regulations manager of Red Bull Racing, stated that current F1 cars pose a serious visibility hazard during rainy races, and this issue is almost impossible to fully resolve. This statement was made after the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix was delayed by 80 minutes due to heavy rain. Knowles explained on The Inside Track podcast that current F1 cars create a lot of water mist during rain races, significantly reducing drivers’ visibility: “These cars are large and their floors generate a very high downforce, which pulls water from the ground and throws it into the air, creating a huge water mist. We have a real problem with visibility. Even with adjustments, there won’t be a fundamental change; maybe we can start a little earlier, but the difference won’t be significant. In such dense water mist, if a car ahead slides, multiple cars behind could be approaching at high speed without seeing clearly. This is something the race control doesn’t want to face.” The FIA previously tested solutions to reduce water mist, including installing mudguards to reduce wheel splash, but these solutions ultimately failed in single-seater cars because most of the water mist comes from the rear diffusers. The FIA hopes that the new technical regulations for 2026 will improve this situation – new cars will have smaller diffusers, reduce reliance on ground effect, and use narrower tires, thereby alleviating the water mist problem during rain races.