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The 'Macarena' Wing: Are Red Bull and Ferrari Dancing on the Edge of Safety?
Following two spectacular crashes for Max Verstappen, who called the situation 'super dangerous', the FIA has finally woken up and is scrutinizing the revolutionary rear wings of Red Bull and Ferrari.
By Kritische Hans van den Broekma - 2026-07-07T15:42:20.000Z - 2 min read
Oh, what a surprise! After months of undisturbed dancing on the track with their ingenious 'Macarena' rear wings, a full-fledged safety investigation is suddenly on the agenda. Apparently, two spectacular pirouettes by world champion Max Verstappen in Austria and Silverstone were finally enough to alert the vigilant folks at the FIA. Who would have thought?
Max himself, ever the polite gentleman, let loose completely over the team radio after his British adventure. 'Super dangerous!' and 'I am completely fed up with it!' echoed across the circuits. And who can blame the man? Being hurled uncontrolled into the gravel trap twice because of a temperamental rear wing is a bit much even for a lucky guy like Max. And rightly so—after all, a person only has one neck, don't they?
At Red Bull, they finally seem to grasp the severity of the situation—now that the FIA is watching. Team Principal Laurent Mekies solemnly vowed to 'leave no stone unturned' and does not even rule out reverting to the conventional wing they used earlier this season. A well-considered decision, it seems, given that safety naturally only becomes a real priority once the top brass get involved.
These miraculous wings, which rotate by around 225 degrees in a smooth motion on the straights (at Ferrari, you read that right), promise fantastically low drag. An ingenious piece of engineering, no doubt. It's just a shame that executing it perfectly is apparently trickier than conceiving it. And while Red Bull is in trouble, Ferrari, employing a similar concept, happily drives around without any incidents. Coincidence? Or perhaps something to do with execution?
The FIA, which constantly claims that safety comes first, now has the chance to truly step in. They could demand additional mechanical safety measures, modify how the wings operate, or in the most drastic scenario: throw the entire concept in the trash bin. And with other teams like McLaren already drooling at the thought of such a low-drag wing, this could well set a precedent for the future. The 'Macarena' might soon have danced its final step.
After all, things only get truly serious when the champion complains in person and regulators feel compelled to act. Let us hope this investigation finally delivers the answers we need, allowing drivers to focus on racing again instead of guessing whether their rear wing will survive the next corner. Because let's face it: a Formula 1 race is far more exciting when the action takes place on the track, not off it.