(Motorsport-Total.com) – The spectacular “Macarena” rear wing from Red Bull Racing remains one of the big talking points at the Miami Grand Prix. The striking aero concept draws a lot of attention in the paddock – not least because of its unusual appearance and the noticeable effects on the straights.
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At the center of the discussion recently was mainly one question: When exactly did Red Bull actually start developing this component – and was it designed in parallel with the similar concept from Ferrari?
Mekies clarifies: Development started much earlier
Laurent Mekies, team principal at Red Bull, has provided a clear assessment. According to him, the “Macarena” wing was developed independently of other teams – and much earlier than many had suspected.
“What I can say for sure is: The guys developed this concept without having seen the wing of the others,” explains Mekies. Although it can no longer be clearly determined in hindsight whether Ferrari had the idea first, for Red Bull the development was carried out independently.
Especially important: Work on the concept began already at the end of last season, i.e., at the end of 2025. Thus, it is not a short-term reaction to current developments in the field, but a long-term planned aerodynamics project.
Delayed deployment due to difficult start to the season
The fact that the wing is only now being prominently used for the first time in Miami is, according to Mekies, due to organizational reasons. The start of the season was “relatively difficult” for Red Bull, which meant priorities in the development program had to be shifted.
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“We had to adjust the priorities a bit,” says Mekies. This delayed the introduction of the wing, although the basic concept was already well advanced. Only later in the season could the project be resumed and finalized, making its use now possible in Miami.
Efficiency in focus: A “strong piece of technology”
Despite the delay, Red Bull is highly satisfied with the result. The wing is considered internally a successful example of modern aerodynamic development – with the clear goal of reducing drag on the straights without impairing cornering performance too much.
Especially on a track like Miami, with long full-throttle sections and slow corners, the concept was able to play to its strengths particularly well. Initial impressions from the paddock suggest that the effect is indeed noticeable.
Even though the discussion about possible parallels to Ferrari resonates in the background, Red Bull emphasizes above all one thing: The development was independent and took place over a longer period.
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