​Following Red Bull’s decision to launch its own investigation into Max Verstappen’s Silverstone crash, with team principal Laurent Mekies insisting the squad would leave “no stone unturned,” the FIA has also requested additional information. Motorsport.com has learned that the governing body has contacted both Ferrari and Red Bull regarding their rotating rear wings, which have become known as the “Macarena wing” since their Miami introduction.
Ferrari was the first to unveil a rotating rear wing designed to enhance active aerodynamics during pre-season testing in Bahrain, aiming to reduce drag even further. Although China had originally been targeted for its race debut, Ferrari ultimately chose not to deploy the design until the Miami Grand Prix. Red Bull followed with its own version in Florida, though technical director Pierre Wache stressed that the inspiration did not come from Ferrari. In truth, Red Bull had already been developing its concept since November 2025, with a design that rotates in the opposite direction to Ferrari’s wing. Red Bull’s rear wing features a more aggressive active aerodynamic opening, allowing greater drag reduction on the straights.
While Ferrari’s Macarena wing has, so far, functioned without technical issues, Red Bull has suffered two failures on Verstappen’s car. After crashes at Spielberg and Silverstone, Verstappen called the overall situation “super dangerous.” The team has clarified that the incidents at Spielberg and Silverstone stemmed from two different problems, but Verstappen’s comment underscored the perceived risk following his crash last Sunday.
For the FIA, both crashes provide ample reason to seek further clarification from Ferrari and Red Bull. At this stage, the request is primarily aimed at obtaining additional information to ensure that both teams remain fully compliant with all safety requirements while the system is in operation. Among these requirements is the maximum transition time of 400 milliseconds within which the rear wing must close. However, it is important to note that this time limit does not automatically guarantee that the airflow has fully reattached.
The technical regulations state: “Any adjustment of 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 400ms, measured from the instant at which the command to change mode is issued by the FIA Standard ECU until the position sensor, connected to the FIA Standard ECU, confirms that the commanded fixed position has been reached.”
The FIA’s primary objective at this stage is to engage with Ferrari and Red Bull to review, in light of the recent incidents, whether both teams fully comply with all requirements. Only after this initial information exchange and review will the FIA determine the next steps to ensure ongoing safety and compliance.