Formula 1: 3 times rule changes created ugly cars

Regulations in Formula 1 change rapidly with the goals of competition and safety improvements. They can, however, create some of the ugliest cars imaginable.

Formula 1 has seen many changes in engineering philosophy over the years, and those changes have, at times, provided aesthetic pleasure. The prelude of these changes tend to be a change in technical regulations or the complete rework of the rulebook.

This can sometimes have the effect of creating some of the most memorable eras of Formula 1 racing, such as the age of ground effects that started with Colin Chapman and Lotus.

Starting in 1960, small skirts on the side pods would scrape the ground and create a vacuum that would quite literally suck the cars through the corners. The cars looked fast and drove even faster and began achieving such high speeds that the skirts were banned prior to the 1983 season.

While the technical mixing of the bag can create innovation and introduce needed safety developments, it can also be responsible for some of the largest eyesores on four wheels.

Great examples of this have come in recent years, as the sporting directors have taken a more active role in the technical regulations of teams with the usual goal of increasing the racing competition and coming up with new safety measures.

Here are three recent examples of times that regulations created ugly Formula 1 cars.