FIA initiates safety probe on Ferrari and Red Bull ‘Macarena’ wings

The FIA has opened a new chapter in Formula 1’s growing rear-wing controversy, demanding answers from Ferrari and Red Bull after two frightening failures on Max Verstappen’s car raised fresh questions over the safety of rotating rear-wing technology.

The governing body’s move comes after Verstappen’s dramatic crashes in Austria and at Silverstone, incidents that have placed the spotlight on the innovative active aerodynamic systems dubbed the “Macarena wing”.

Ferrari and Red Bull are currently the only teams to have raced with the concept this season, but the FIA, according to a report from Motorsport.com, now wants a closer look at whether the designs fully satisfy every safety requirement.

Red Bull had already begun its own internal investigation following Verstappen’s Silverstone accident, with team principal Laurent Mekies promising the team would examine every detail.

“We are going to review the full area to make sure we leave zero chance for that to happen again,” Mekies said. “We will do whatever is necessary to be on the safe side.”

Now, the FIA has joined the investigation, requesting further technical information from both teams as it evaluates whether existing regulations are enough to guarantee reliability.

A technical gamble under the microscope

The rotating rear wing was created as part of Formula 1’s new era of active aerodynamics, allowing teams to reduce drag more effectively on straights.

Ferrari first revealed its version during pre-season testing in Bahrain, initially targeting an earlier race introduction before waiting until Miami to unleash the design.

Red Bull arrived at the same race with its own interpretation, although technical director Pierre Wache stressed that the team’s design was developed independently.

The two concepts are notably different, with Red Bull’s system rotating in the opposite direction and creating a more aggressive aerodynamic opening – potentially offering greater drag reduction.

Ferrari’s system has operated without reported trouble so far. Red Bull, however, has endured two rear-wing failures on Verstappen’s car, with the team insisting the Austria and Silverstone incidents had separate causes.

The consequences have been impossible to ignore. After the Silverstone crash, Verstappen described the situation as “super dangerous”, intensifying pressure on Red Bull and the FIA to ensure the technology cannot create another high-risk scenario.

The FIA’s immediate focus is not to outlaw the concept, but to establish whether the teams have met the current rules.

One key requirement states that the rear-wing flap must complete its transition between fixed positions within 400 milliseconds, measured from the electronic command being issued until the position sensor confirms the change.

However, that limit does not necessarily guarantee that the airflow has instantly stabilised once the wing has moved – a detail that could become central to the FIA’s review.

More teams waiting in the … wings

The investigation arrives at a crucial moment, with other teams beginning to explore similar ideas. McLaren has already produced its own rotating rear-wing design, bringing it to Austria but deciding it was not yet ready for competition use.

The team also avoided introducing the wing during the Silverstone sprint weekend because of the demanding format, although it suggested Belgium could become the stage for its debut.

• Read also: Red Bull to inestigate rear-wing failure, but Verstappen fury 'justified'

For Red Bull, the timing could hardly be more sensitive. The team has confirmed it will assess whether the rotating rear wing should be used at Spa-Francorchamps, but another failure would be unacceptable — both from a sporting and safety perspective.

Only after gathering information from Ferrari and Red Bull will the FIA decide whether further measures are needed. In the most extreme scenario, additional restrictions or even a temporary ban could be considered, but such action is not currently the aim.

For now, the rotating rear wing remains legal — but after Verstappen’s crashes, it is firmly under the FIA’s microscope.

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