FIA Seeks Clarification on Ferrari and Red Bull Rotating Rear Wings After Verstappen Accidents
The governing body has formally requested detailed information from Ferrari and Red Bull regarding their rotating rear‑wing systems following Max Verstappen’s high‑speed incidents at Spielberg and Silverstone.
Both teams debuted the so‑called “Macarena wing” earlier in the season: Ferrari unveiled a rotating rear wing during pre‑season Bahrain testing, while Red Bull introduced its own variant in Florida. Although Ferrari’s design has not encountered on‑track failures, Red Bull’s version suffered two detachment incidents on Verstappen’s car.
FIA’s inquiry focuses on compliance with the regulation that limits the transition time of the wing flap to 400 ms—a figure that does not guarantee full aerodynamic reattachment. The rule states that any change must be initiated by the FIA Standard ECU and confirmed by a position sensor within the stipulated time.
Team Reactions and Future Plans
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s principal, reiterated that the squad will examine every element of the wing system to eliminate any risk of recurrence. The team confirmed it may withdraw the rotating wing from the Spa-Francorchamps round pending the outcome of the FIA investigation.
Ferrari, meanwhile, remains confident in its current implementation, noting that no technical issues have emerged during practice or race sessions. Both organisations are cooperating fully as the FIA assesses whether their setups meet all safety and regulatory requirements.
Potential Consequences and Broader Impact
While the investigation is not aimed at an outright ban, the FIA warns it could impose further checks or, in extreme scenarios, prohibit the concept for the remainder of the season or in 2027. McLaren’s preliminary work on a rotating wing remains outside the current FIA request and will likely be reviewed only after the investigation concludes.
With more teams poised to deploy similar systems, the outcome of this probe will shape regulatory direction for active aerodynamics in Formula 1’s forthcoming seasons.
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