(Motorsport-Total.com) – So far, Ferrari and Red Bull are the only teams to have started the 2026 Formula 1 season with rotating rear wings; now the FIA wants to ensure without gaps that all safety requirements are met in this regard.
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After Red Bull launched its own investigation into Max Verstappen’s accident in Silverstone and team principal Laurent Mekies emphasized that the team would “leave no stone unturned,” the FIA has now also requested additional information.
Motorsport.com has learned that the governing body has contacted both Ferrari and Red Bull regarding their rotating rear wings. The design has been known as the “Macarena wing” since its introduction in Miami.
Ferrari and Red Bull the pioneers
Ferrari was the first team to unveil a rotating rear wing for active aerodynamics during the winter tests in Bahrain to further reduce drag. Although China was originally considered as the race debut, Ferrari ultimately decided to use the design only at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull followed in Florida with its own version, with technical director Pierre Wache emphasizing that they were not inspired by Ferrari. In fact, Red Bull had been developing its own concept since November 2025, whose wing rotates in the opposite direction to Ferrari’s.
Red Bull’s rear wing is designed more aggressively in terms of the size of the active aerodynamic opening and can therefore achieve a greater reduction in drag on the straights. While Ferrari has had no technical problems with its Macarena wing so far, Red Bull has already suffered two failures on Verstappen’s car.
Dangerous crash of Verstappen
The team made it clear that the incidents in Spielberg and Silverstone were caused by two different problems, although Verstappen described the overall situation after his accident last Sunday as “super dangerous.”
For the FIA, both crashes are reason enough to demand further clarity from Ferrari and Red Bull. At this point, the request primarily aims to obtain additional information to ensure that both teams fully meet all safety requirements in operating the system.
These requirements include, among other things, the maximum transition time of 400 milliseconds within which the rear wing must close. Logically, however, this time limit does not automatically mean that the airflow has immediately fully reattached.
The FIA will look closely
“Any adjustment of the RW flap may only be controlled by the FIA standard ECU and must have a maximum transition time between the two fixed positions that does not exceed 400 milliseconds. Measurement starts from the moment the command to change mode is given by the FIA standard ECU until the position sensor connected to the FIA standard ECU confirms that the commanded fixed position has been reached,” states the technical regulations.
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The FIA’s main goal at the current stage is to exchange information with Ferrari and Red Bull and, in light of recent incidents, to check whether both teams fully comply with all requirements.
Only then will the governing body decide whether additional regulations or controls are necessary—for example, in case Red Bull has met every existing requirement but such incidents are still possible.
Internal and external investigation
In the most extreme scenario, the FIA could decide to ban the concept for the rest of the season or for 2027. However, this is not the goal of the ongoing investigation and is not currently under immediate discussion.
Red Bull has already confirmed that it will analyze whether to start with the rotating rear wing at Spa-Francorchamps. Regardless of the FIA request, Red Bull—especially given Verstappen’s growing frustration behind the scenes—cannot afford another rear wing failure.
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“We will review the entire area to ensure that we absolutely leave no chance for something like this to happen again,” Mekies said on Sunday evening. “We will do whatever is necessary to be on the safe side.”
McLaren wants to follow suit
The review of the rotating rear wing concept has gained even more importance as other Formula 1 teams introduce their own versions. McLaren first brought a rotating rear wing to the track in Austria but did not consider the design ready for use—not even for a free practice session.
Andrea Stella’s team also decided against using the new rear wing at the Silverstone sprint weekend due to the format change but hinted that the wing could make its track debut in Spa.
According to Motorsport.com, the current FIA request concerns only Ferrari and Red Bull and does not currently extend to McLaren.
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