FIA Investigates Red Bull and Ferrari’s Rotating Rear Wings Amid Safety Concerns After Verstappen Crashes
After Red Bull initiated its own inquiry into Max Verstappen’s Silverstone incident, with team principal Laurent Mekies confirming the squad would conduct thorough investigations, the FIA has also sought additional details.
Motorsport.com reports that the governing body has engaged both Ferrari and Red Bull regarding their rotating rear wings—colloquially termed the “Macarena wing”—which were first introduced during Miami’s Grand Prix.
Ferrari pioneered the rotating rear wing concept during pre-season testing in Bahrain, aiming to reduce drag further. While initially targeting China for its debut, the design was implemented in Miami instead.
Red Bull followed suit with its own version in Florida, though technical director Pierre Wache clarified independent development, with the team’s concept dating back to November 2025 and rotating in the opposite direction to Ferrari’s.
Red Bull’s design allows for a larger aerodynamic opening, offering greater drag reduction on straights compared to Ferrari’s iteration.
While Ferrari has not reported technical issues, Red Bull experienced two rear wing failures on Verstappen’s car, highlighting safety concerns.
Following his crashes at Spielberg and Silverstone, Verstappen has described the situation as ‘super dangerous’
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Are additional checks or requirements needed?
The team explained that the Spielberg and Silverstone incidents stemmed from distinct causes, though Verstappen characterized the overall situation as “super dangerous.”
The FIA’s request focuses on verifying compliance with safety standards, including the 400-millisecond maximum transition time for wing adjustments mandated by regulations.
Regulations stipulate that rear wing adjustments must be controlled by the FIA Standard ECU, with transition times measured from command issuance to position confirmation.
The governing body aims to confirm whether both teams fully adhere to existing rules before evaluating potential regulatory changes. Extreme measures, such as a ban, remain unlikely at this stage.
Although McLaren has also been working on a rotating wing, the FIA’s request has so far been limited to Ferrari and Red Bull
Photo by: Paul Foster
FIA request currently limited to Ferrari and Red Bull, not McLaren
Red Bull plans to reassess the use of its rotating wing at Spa-Francorchamps, acknowledging Verstappen’s mounting frustrations. Mekies stated, “We will do whatever is necessary to ensure zero risk,” confirming post-incident modifications.
McLaren tested a rotating rear wing in Austria but avoided deployment during Silverstone’s sprint weekend. Team principal Andrea Stella indicated a potential Austria debut in Belgium, though the FIA’s current scrutiny excludes McLaren.
Motorsport.com confirms the FIA’s focus remains on Ferrari and Red Bull, with no formal requests directed at McLaren or other teams.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Motorsport.com Team
