During the 1970s Formula 1 season, Lotus designer Colin Chapman discovered that his cars could lap faster in wet conditions than dry ones due to a counterintuitive aerodynamic effect: water on the track surface reduced turbulence and altered air pressure around the car’s underbody, creating unexpected downforce gains that Chapman’s rivals didn’t understand, giving Lotus a mysterious wet-weather advantage that persisted until other teams eventually reverse-engineered the phenomenon.
Car Fact #16 — July 2, 2026
