michl420 wrote: ↑12 Feb 2026, 18:22
This barge boards will go crazy like 2021 for sure.
They will probably be one of the primary areas for development, but they won't ever get to 2021 levels. They will definitely get more complex as the seasons pass, and teams will probably find ever more loopholes to increase the complexity. But ultimately there is only so much you can do to with them due to the strict legality boxes and section rules that apply to them.
The bargeboard area was functionally fully unrestricted in 2021. They could do pretty much anything they wanted to in that huge legality box and could add as many elements as they needed to do it. They were so absurdly complex that no aero element in F1 will probably ever come close.
The only way it ever will come close is if dirty air stops being a major hinderance to racing and the teams decide that the cars are too slow and need more downforce. In that case I could see them opening up the bargeboard area for development, as you can get probably a second or two out of more complex bargeboards without really requiring a large rework of the regulations regarding the rest of the car.
Realistically though, if they decide the cars are too slow, they will probably just increase energy flow and/or tweak floor and diffuser regulations.
What’s covered:
The article includes a full video breakdown with visuals and expert commentary.
Read & watch here:
