Bargeboard

A bargeboard is a vertical aerodynamic panel mounted on the side of a Formula 1 car between the front wheels and the main body to control airflow and improve performance.

Think of bargeboards as air traffic controllers for race cars. Just like how front wheels spinning at high speed create messy, turbulent air that can hurt the car's performance, bargeboards step in to clean up this chaotic airflow and redirect it where it's needed most.

These components work by catching the disturbed air coming off the front wheels and front wing, then smoothing it out and channeling it toward important areas of the car. This managed airflow helps create downforce, which is the invisible force that pushes the car down onto the track for better grip and faster cornering speeds.

Bargeboards also generate spinning columns of air called vortices that act like invisible barriers. These vortices prevent turbulent air from getting underneath the car, where smooth airflow is crucial for creating maximum downforce from the car's floor and rear diffuser.

The design of these aerodynamic elements became incredibly complex over the years, with teams adding multiple small wings, turning vanes, and intricate shapes to squeeze out every bit of performance. Modern bargeboards looked more like sculptural art pieces than simple panels, with each curve and angle carefully calculated to manipulate airflow.

Made from lightweight carbon fiber, bargeboards were positioned away from the car's main structure using support struts. Their size and shape required careful balance - larger bargeboards could create more downforce but also increased drag, which would slow the car down on straights.

However, bargeboards disappeared from Formula 1 in 2022 when new regulations banned them as part of major aerodynamic rule changes designed to improve racing and reduce costs. While they're no longer seen in F1, bargeboards remain an important part of motorsport aerodynamic history and are still used in other racing series.