F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Red Bull grid drama sparked by cracked rear wings!

Red Bull revealed that the team's pre-race scramble on the grid at Silverstone was caused by the sudden discovery of minor cracks in the rear wing endplates of the team's RB15 cars.

In the minutes heading into the start of Sunday's race, a frenzy broke out on the grid, with the Red Bull crews seen changing the rear wing endplates on the cars of Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit undertook the changes after getting the all-clear from the FIA as the cars were still under Parc Fermé conditions.

"One of the mechanics doing one of the checks found a crack in the rear wing of Max, so we applied to get permission to change it," team boss Christian Horner explained after the race.

"Then, there was an inspection on Pierre’s and we could see the very start of a crack appearing in the same place. So permission to change them both was granted just as a security, and we did that."

As an extra measure of precaution, crews also consolidated the endplates with tape and glue.

"The tape wasn’t going to reinforce it, it was more some glue that went on," Horner added.

The team was spared any further drama linked to the wing elements in the race, with Verstappen and Gasly unaffected by the issue, but the problem will warrant some forensic analysis this week back at Red Bull's base.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Formula 1 fuel flow dispute lands in court ahead of Austin GP

Formula 1’s battle over fuel flow monitoring has spilled into the courtroom, with former supplier…

2 minutes ago

Barcelona lands 2027 IndyCar deal to fill F1 void

Barcelona has found a high-profile alternative to Formula 1 for 2027, with the Circuit de…

2 hours ago

Horner reveals ‘secret meeting’, Hamilton’s bid to join Red Bull

Christian Horner has revealed in his upcoming autobiography, Drive, that a “secret meeting” with Lewis…

3 hours ago

Another flying Swede gone way too soon

He wasn't as flamboyant behind the wheel of a racing car as his countryman Ronnie…

4 hours ago

Why Wolff isn’t counting on an Antonelli title in Austin

Kimi Antonelli could be just one race away from an extraordinary Formula 1 milestone, but…

5 hours ago

Horner blames Marko for Red Bull sacking, gets fierce rebuttal

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko spent two decades operating as Red Bull’s formidable power couple,…

7 hours ago