Plank

A plank is a wooden or composite strip attached to the underside of a Formula 1 car that helps enforce minimum ride height regulations and limits aerodynamic advantages.

The plank runs along the center of the car's floor and must maintain a minimum thickness after races. Officials measure the plank's wear at specific points, and excessive wear indicates the car was running too low to the ground, which can result in disqualification.

Introduced in 1994 after Ayrton Senna's fatal crash, the plank prevents teams from running cars dangerously close to the track surface to gain aerodynamic downforce. The plank is responsible for the sparks often seen when F1 cars run over bumps or kerbs.