For the second consecutive race weekend, Max Verstappen crashed as a result of a difficulty with Pink Bull’s rear wing, though the four-time world champion instantly confused that the 2 failures had been attributable to completely different issues.
“A distinct fault, for example, however the identical consequence,” Verstappen defined.
After the crash in Spielberg, the place Verstappen went off on the finish of Q3, Pink Bull mentioned it understood the reason for that particular failure. It’s all the extra regarding {that a} completely different rear wing difficulty emerged on the very subsequent race weekend – one the workforce had not anticipated.
Pink Bull’s rear wing has attracted explicit consideration as a result of its lively aerodynamic system creates the biggest opening on the grid.
The workforce launched its personal model of the ‘Macarena wing’ in Miami, with technical director Pierre Wache telling Motorsport.com that the inspiration had not come from Ferrari.
The design can also be completely different. Whereas Ferrari’s rear wing can rotate by as much as 270 levels in a single route, Pink Bull’s rotates by as much as 160 levels in the wrong way.
Pink Bull started working by itself idea in November 2025 and initially supposed to introduce it in Melbourne. Nevertheless, the workforce was not glad with it on the time, delaying its debut till Miami.
Pink Bull’s model of the Macarena wing is efficient at lowering drag, however has already brought on two crashes
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos by way of Getty Photos
“No stone unturned” in rear wing investigation
Though Pink Bull’s idea seems efficient in lowering drag, security should at all times come first. That applies not solely to the FIA – which has been concerned within the design course of from the very starting – but additionally to the drivers.
Verstappen described the latest rear wing incidents as “tremendous harmful”, a priority that turns into much more related with the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit developing.
It means Pink Bull can solely race the wing once more on the Belgian Grand Prix whether it is utterly satisfied that every one of its teething issues have been eradicated. That investigation is now underway.
“We’re going to overview the complete space to verify we go away zero probability for that to occur once more,” Mekies mentioned on Sunday night when requested concerning the two separate failures.
Leaving zero probability of a repeat successfully implies that each choice stays on the desk – together with not utilizing the rotating rear wing at Spa.
Pink Bull nonetheless believes within the idea, but additionally is aware of it can not afford one other failure, notably given Verstappen’s dissatisfaction behind the scenes.
“We are going to do no matter is important to be on the secure facet,” mentioned Mekies. “We have now raced fairly a number of races with that idea now. We have now raced since Miami, I believe. So, it has been quite a lot of races.
“It is too early within the evaluation to ascertain whether or not it is a difficulty with the idea or one thing else. However we’re for certain going to depart no stone unturned relating to it. And we’ve got all of the choices open.”
Pink Bull can not afford to danger a 3rd crash, particularly given Verstappen’s frustration behind the scenes
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
McLaren has taken a extra cautious method
These choices embrace quickly reverting to an older, extra typical rear wing specification for Spa. Naturally, the technical workforce led by Wache would somewhat keep away from that, as it might signify a step backwards when it comes to drag discount and subsequently outright efficiency.
That’s notably important at an energy-starved circuit corresponding to Spa, the place vitality administration is as soon as once more anticipated to play an important function – an space during which Pink Bull has not excelled to this point this season. That makes each little bit of drag discount beneficial.
But when any doubt stays over the present specification – and if that doubt can’t be eradicated inside the subsequent two weeks – then Pink Bull has little selection however to be on the secure facet.
One other setback like these in Spielberg and Silverstone is the very last thing the workforce wants, particularly given Verstappen’s frustrations on Sunday evening.
Apparently, McLaren introduced its personal rotating rear wing to Spielberg for the primary time, however selected to not use it there as a result of the workforce didn’t but contemplate the design prepared, not even for a free observe session.
The workforce additionally didn’t run it at Silverstone as a result of dash format, which means Spa may turn out to be its first actual check. In gentle of Pink Bull’s latest issues, McLaren’s cautious method is simple to grasp.
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