Underfloor / Floor

The underfloor (or floor) of a Formula 1 car is the bottom surface that faces the track. In the current ground effect era (2022 onwards), the floor is the most important aerodynamic element on the car, generating the majority of the downforce through the Venturi effect. The floor features carefully shaped tunnels that accelerate airflow, creating a low-pressure zone under the car. The floor also includes the diffuser at the rear, which expands the airflow and recovers pressure. The floor is tightly regulated — teams cannot use certain shapes or features that would create excessive ground effect. The floor is also the element most affected by porpoising.

The floor has been a key aerodynamic element since the ground effect era of the late 1970s. The flat bottom rule (1983-2021) prevented teams from using shaped floors. The 2022 regulations reintroduced shaped floors as the primary aerodynamic concept.