Max Verstappen will not utilise Red Bull’s ‘Macarena’ rear wing during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. The decision follows two high-speed incidents for Verstappen in recent races, linked to the novel wing design.
Red Bull has opted to revert to an older, conventional rear wing specification for the current race weekend. This move aims to address the reliability concerns that have plagued the newer design.
The ‘Macarena’ wing, a nickname for a revolving rear wing concept, was introduced by Red Bull at the Miami Grand Prix this season. Ferrari also debuted its own version of this design earlier in the year.
Verstappen experienced significant issues with the wing, crashing during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix and spinning out of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. These incidents were attributed to the wing failing to close properly when transitioning from straight-line mode to cornering.
Verstappen described the wing’s malfunction as ‘super dangerous’ after the Silverstone incident. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that tests conducted after Silverstone revealed an issue with their design.
The Spa-Francorchamps circuit, known for its long straights and high-speed sections, demands low-downforce configurations. The circuit features five ‘straight mode zones’ where drag reduction is critical for lap time.
A defect in the rear wing could pose significant problems, particularly on the uphill sections of Spa. The team’s decision prioritises stability and safety over the potential top-speed advantage offered by the ‘Macarena’ wing.
Isack Hadjar, Verstappen’s teammate for the 2026 season, will also run the older specification rear wing. Hadjar, who joined Red Bull from Racing Bulls for 2026, stated that while the visual change is significant, the impact in the car is less than expected.
Hadjar acknowledged that he had been ‘quite lucky’ not to experience similar issues with the wing in previous races. He believes the team will maintain similar competitiveness despite the less impressive rear wing.
Red Bull is reportedly working on modifications to the ‘Macarena’ wing at its Milton Keynes factory. The team intends to reintroduce the updated wing once the issues are resolved and it can be used safely.
The FIA has also been examining the aggressive rear-wing concepts used by both Red Bull and Ferrari following Verstappen’s incidents. Ferrari’s version of the rotating wing has not encountered similar reliability problems.
McLaren and Mercedes have also introduced rear wing updates for the Belgian Grand Prix, with Ferrari being the only frontrunner without new aerodynamic components. Red Bull has also brought a single update to its standard rear wing, featuring revised pylon profiles.
