After the recent accidents of Max Verstappen at Silverstone, the Formula 1 regulatory body, the FIA, has shown interest in the rotating wing systems of Red Bull and Ferrari. Both teams have been the only ones to implement this technology in the current season, popularly known as the “Macarena wing” since its introduction in Miami.
Ferrari pioneered the use of a rotating wing during the pre-season tests in Bahrain, aiming to reduce drag. Initially, its debut was planned for the Chinese race, but the team eventually decided to wait until the Miami race. Red Bull, for its part, also launched its model in Florida, with a design that rotates in the opposite direction to Ferrari’s, but they had been developing it since November 2025.
Although Ferrari has not reported technical problems with its wing, Red Bull has suffered two failures in Verstappen’s vehicle. This, after the incidents in Spielberg and Silverstone, has raised concerns about safety, calling the situation “super dangerous”.
Review of safety standards
The FIA is now seeking more information to ensure that both teams meet all safety requirements during the operation of their rotating wings. These specifications include a maximum transition time of 400 milliseconds to close the wing. However, this time limit does not guarantee that the airflow has fully gathered after this period.
The technical regulations stipulate that “any adjustment of a rotating wing must be controlled by the FIA’s standard ECU and must have a maximum transition time between the two fixed positions not exceeding 400 ms”. The initial objective of the FIA is to review these systems in light of recent incidents and verify whether Red Bull and Ferrari meet the required standards.
Possible future consequences
This investigation could lead to the implementation of additional requirements, including the option for the FIA to ban the use of this technology during the current season or next year, although this is not currently the main goal.
On the other hand, Red Bull has confirmed that it will analyze whether it will continue competing with its rotating wing at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. In light of Verstappen’s growing discomfort, the team wants to ensure that there are no more failures.
In this context, it is relevant to mention that McLaren has also been working on a rotating wing model, but the current FIA investigation focuses exclusively on Ferrari and Red Bull.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
