F1's Wet Weather Problem Is Proving Tricky To Solve

Formula 1 has a rain problem. Or, indeed—multiple problems that all conspire to play havoc with a race weekend when too much water falls from the sky. Despite the best efforts from teams and the FIA alike, easy solutions are proving hard to find.

As covered by The Race, wet races were once celebrated by fans and drivers alike. They gave an opportunity for those with the most talent to shine, with more passing and on-track action almost a certainty in the old days. They also often served as an opportunity for lower teams to pick up a strong result with a capable driver and smart strategy choices. Today, though, a wet race more often than not means long red flag stoppages, delays, and farcical results like those at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.

The biggest problem these days is not one of grip, but visibility. In many cases, drivers can run safely on intermediate tires, with no need to switch to the more aggressive full wets. Despite ample grip and little risk of aquaplaning, the spray thrown up by the cars creates so much opaque grey mist that it's impossible to race safely. By the time visibility is good enough to race, conditions demand intermediates instead of full wets.

The FIA's efforts to solve this problem have thus far come to naught. A "Wet Weather Package" was trialed in testing after the 2023 British Grand Prix, consisting of a set of mudguard-like devices fitted to the wheels. The hope was that these devices could cut the spray by 50%. Sadly, they made "no tangible difference to visibility according to Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's Single Seater Director.