Red Bull Reverts to Conventional Rear Wing for Belgian Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing entered the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps with its original, non-rotating rear wing after the team’s experimental “Macarena” rotating element caused two separate high-speed failures that sent Max Verstappen off the track in Austria and Britain. The decision to revert was announced on Thursday before practice sessions began.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

The rotating rear wing, first pioneered by Ferrari under the 2026 active-aerodynamic rules, was adopted by Red Bull at the Miami Grand Prix. Its upper element pivots between straight-line and corner modes to improve straight-line speed. At the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying, the wing failed to return to its intended position, producing a heavy crash for Verstappen. A week later at the British Grand Prix, a different fault produced the same loss of downforce and another off-track incident. Both crashes were described by Verstappen as “super dangerous.”

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for SpaRed Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaintsRed Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 raceRed Bull drops Macarena as Verstappen backs teamHadjar says Red Bull is working on safe return of Macarena wing

• Max Verstappen – Four-time world champion driver.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Laurent Mekies – Red Bull team principal.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Pierre Wache – Technical director of Oracle Red Bull Racing.

Red Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 race

• Isack Hadjar – Red Bull test driver.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Dr Helmut Marko – Retired Red Bull adviser.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Miami Grand Prix (2026) – Red Bull debuts rotating wing.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Austrian Grand Prix qualifying (2026) – First failure, Verstappen crashes.

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for Spa

• British Grand Prix race (2026) – Second failure, Verstappen crashes again.

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for Spa

• Thursday, 2026 Belgian GP weekend – Team announces return to old wing.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Next race, Hungarian Grand Prix (2026) – Planned re-introduction of the rotating wing after modifications.

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for Spa

• Two separate rear-wing failures resulted in Verstappen’s off-track incidents.

Hadjar says Red Bull is working on safe return of Macarena wing

• In Free Practice 1 at Spa, Verstappen posted the fastest time, finishing 0.5 seconds behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• Team engineers estimate the older wing may cost “a little bit slower” lap times but will not dramatically alter performance.

Hadjar says Red Bull is working on safe return of Macarena wing

Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Wache called the issue “a mechanical problem that we spotted after the accident in Silverstone” and said the team is working to make the component “bulletproof” before Budapest. Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged Verstappen’s frustration, stating the team will “put in place what is necessary… even if we failed to do that today.” Test driver Isack Hadjar described his own luck in avoiding the failures and affirmed the team is “working hard to ensure the ‘Macarena’ wing can return as soon as possible.” Former adviser Helmut Marko warned that the setbacks have “increased tensions” and emphasized the priority of giving Verstappen a competitive car again.

Red Bull drops Macarena as Verstappen backs team

Verstappen publicly labeled the wing “super dangerous” and expressed that “while turning into the corner, the rear wing is not fully attaching and you lose a lot of downforce.” Mekies admitted the driver was “right not to be happy,” highlighting driver safety concerns as a central criticism of the design.

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for Spa

Hadjar noted he was “fortunate” that the issue only affected Verstappen, describing the incidents as “down to luck.” Verstappen reiterated that the older wing “might be a bit slower, but it’s not going to turn the world upside down.”

Hadjar says Red Bull is working on safe return of Macarena wing

Media outlets reported an FIA investigation into the wing, yet GPFans clarified that the governing body had not opened a formal probe, instead urging Red Bull and Ferrari to share more technical information. The precise performance loss from reverting to the old wing remains unquantified.

Red Bull announce major F1 U-turn after Max Verstappen complaints

• “It's a mechanical problem that we spotted after the accident in Silverstone,” — Pierre Wache, Technical Director

Red Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 race

• “I think it’s a little bit slower, but it’s not going to turn the world upside down.” — Max Verstappen, Driver

Hadjar says Red Bull is working on safe return of Macarena wing

• “Like Austria, a different fault but the same outcome,” — Max Verstappen, Driver

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for Spa

• “We’ll go back on the old one and see when the latest one is ready again to be used,” — Max Verstappen, Driver

Red Bull scraps troubled ‘Macarena’ wing for Spa

• “No, I think it was clear to everyone that it might be a bit wise for this weekend, he said.” — Max Verstappen, Driver

Red Bull drops Macarena as Verstappen backs team

Technical director Pierre Wache indicated that the rotating wing is slated to return at the Hungarian Grand Prix, pending successful modifications and FIA clearance. Red Bull will continue development at its Milton Keynes factory while monitoring performance of the conventional wing throughout the Spa weekend.

Red Bull expects its ‘Macarena’ wing to return at next F1 race