Bargeboard is a piece of bodywork positioned between the front wheels and sidepods in F1 cars. The main purpose of putting this bargeboard in place is to maximize aerodynamics. Bargeboards regulate the incoming air without disrupting the car’s balance around high-speed corners.
The bargeboard design has become increasingly complex to control the airflow and enhance the aerodynamic performance. This led FIA to remove bargeboards in 2022. Because bargeboards cause major aerodynamic disruptions to the cars behind.
In the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen’s car sustained irreparable damage to one of the bargeboards. As shown in the photo above, this damage led the Dutch driver to have a slower pace.