The FIA has confirmed it will not ban the rotating rear wing concept, widely known as the 'Macarena wing', from Formula 1 in 2026. However, Red Bull has been given a gentle warning following two consecutive crashes for Max Verstappen at Spielberg and Silverstone, which prompted extra dialogue with the Austrian team.
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's single-seater director, stressed that the overall concept is not a problem. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that there were specific talks with Red Bull after Verstappen's incidents. "Generally, we have no objections to this design, but every team must ensure their system is safe under all conditions," he said.
Macarena Wing Concept: Innovation or Problem?
This rotating rear wing was first introduced by Ferrari during winter testing. The Italian team managed to surprise several rivals, including McLaren. Meanwhile, Red Bull had been developing their own version behind the scenes, claiming their concept works differently, including rotating in the opposite direction.
However, Red Bull only managed to use their wing starting from the Miami GP. Initially, everything went smoothly, but Verstappen's two crashes in Austria and Britain raised concerns. The FIA then requested additional data from both teams that have used the concept, not only due to technical issues but also to ensure safety as more teams are interested in adopting similar technology.
McLaren is reportedly testing a rotating wing and plans to race it during one of the first weekends after the summer break. This shows that this innovation is seen as the way forward, though there is still homework for some teams, especially Red Bull.
Tombazis explained that the FIA conducted an in-depth analysis, including FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), to ensure the wing does not fail to close quickly. "The key is that the wing must close rapidly and there must be no risk of hydraulic failure that keeps it open," he emphasized.
With this decision, the competition in the second half of the season is expected to heat up. Teams that have not yet used the Macarena wing will continue to catch up, while Ferrari and Red Bull must maintain the reliability of their systems. Will this innovation become the differentiator in the world championship? We'll have to wait and see.
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