After Crimson Bull launched its personal investigation into Max Verstappen’s Silverstone crash, with crew principal Laurent Mekies insisting the squad would depart “no stone unturned”, the FIA has additionally requested extra info.
Motorsport.com has realized that the governing physique has contacted each Ferrari and Crimson Bull concerning their rotating rear wings, which have grow to be generally known as the ‘Macarena wing’ since their introduction in Miami.
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Ferrari was the primary crew to unveil a rotating rear wing for the lively aerodynamics throughout pre-season testing in Bahrain, with the purpose of decreasing drag even additional. Though China had initially been focused as its race debut, Ferrari in the end determined to not use the design till the Miami Grand Prix.
Crimson Bull additionally launched its personal model in Florida, though technical director Pierre Wache careworn that the inspiration had not come from Ferrari. In actuality, Crimson Bull had already been creating its personal idea since November 2025, with a design that rotates in the other way to Ferrari’s wing.
Crimson Bull’s rear wing is extra aggressive within the measurement of the lively aerodynamic opening it creates, and due to this fact within the quantity of drag discount it could obtain on the straights.
Whereas Ferrari has thus far encountered no technical points with its Macarena wing, Crimson Bull has suffered two failures on Verstappen’s automobile.
Following his crashes at Spielberg and Silverstone, Verstappen has described the state of affairs as “tremendous harmful”
Following his crashes at Spielberg and Silverstone, Verstappen has described the state of affairs as “tremendous harmful”
Are extra checks or necessities wanted?
The crew has clarified that the incidents in Spielberg and Silverstone have been attributable to two totally different issues, though Verstappen described the general state of affairs as “tremendous harmful” after his crash final Sunday.
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For the FIA, each crashes are enough cause to hunt additional clarification from Ferrari and Crimson Bull. At this stage, the request is primarily geared toward acquiring extra info to make sure that each groups are totally compliant with all security necessities whereas the system is in operation.
These necessities embody, amongst different issues, the utmost transition time of 400 milliseconds inside which the rear wing should shut. Logically, nevertheless, that point restrict doesn’t robotically imply that the airflow has totally reattached.
The technical laws state: “Any adjustment of RW Flap might solely be managed by the FIA Commonplace ECU and will need to have a most transition time between the 2 mounted positions that doesn’t exceed 400ms, measured from the moment at which the command to alter mode is issued by the FIA Commonplace ECU till the place sensor, linked to the FIA Commonplace ECU, confirms that the commanded mounted place has been reached.”
The FIA’s main goal at this stage is to have interaction with Ferrari and Crimson Bull to evaluation, in gentle of the current incidents, whether or not each groups totally adjust to all necessities.
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Solely afterwards will the governing physique decide whether or not any extra laws or checks are required, for instance if Crimson Bull is discovered to have complied with each present requirement however such incidents are nonetheless attainable.
In probably the most excessive situation, the FIA may determine to ban the idea for the rest of the season or for 2027, though that isn’t the target of the present investigation and isn’t instantly on the playing cards at this stage.
Though McLaren has additionally been engaged on a rotating wing, the FIA’s request has thus far been restricted to Ferrari and Crimson Bull
Though McLaren has additionally been engaged on a rotating wing, the FIA’s request has thus far been restricted to Ferrari and Crimson Bull
FIA request at the moment restricted to Ferrari and Crimson Bull, not McLaren
Crimson Bull has already confirmed that it’ll analyse whether or not it desires to race with the rotating rear wing at Spa-Francorchamps subsequent week. Except for the FIA request, Crimson Bull – notably given Verstappen’s rising frustration behind the scenes – can not afford one other rear wing failure.
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“We’re going to evaluation the complete space to verify we depart zero probability for that to occur once more,” Mekies stated on Sunday night. “We’ll do no matter is critical to be on the secure facet.”
Scrutinising the rotating rear wing idea has grow to be much more necessary as a result of extra F1 groups are introducing their very own variations. McLaren introduced a rotating rear wing to Austria for the primary time, however didn’t but take into account the design prepared to be used, not even throughout a free follow session.
Andrea Stella’s crew additionally selected to not use the brand new rear wing in the course of the Silverstone dash weekend due to the weekend format, however hinted that the wing may make its on-track debut in Belgium.
Motorsport.com understands that the FIA’s present request considerations solely Ferrari and Crimson Bull, and doesn’t at this stage prolong to McLaren.
Learn Additionally:
Why McLaren hasn’t run its “McMacarena” wing in Austria
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