Red Bull Faces Rear Wing Safety Crisis Ahead of Spa After Second Verstappen Crash

Max Verstappen has crashed in consecutive race weekends due to two separate failures of Red Bull's innovative rotating rear wing. With the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit next on the calendar, the team is scrambling to determine whether its drag-reducing 'Macarena wing' can be trusted or if it must revert to a safer, conventional specification.

Why it matters:

The stakes extend far beyond a single component. Verstappen labeled the incidents "super dangerous," and another failure at Spa could carry severe consequences at one of the calendar's fastest tracks. The situation also adds to the strain between the four-time champion and the team, as his frustration with persistent reliability issues continues to build.

The details:

• After isolating the cause of the Spielberg failure, Red Bull encountered an entirely different rear wing fault at Silverstone. Mekies confirmed the team is investigating both incidents to "leave zero chance" of a recurrence.
• The 'Macarena wing,' introduced in Miami following development that began in November 2025, rotates up to 160 degrees to reduce drag. It produces the largest aerodynamic opening on the grid.
• Every option remains on the table, including shelving the current concept for Spa. A conventional wing would sacrifice drag reduction and hurt performance at an energy-sensitive circuit where Red Bull has already struggled this season.
• McLaren brought its own rotating wing to Spielberg but deliberately held it back from running. Its cautious approach now looks particularly wise given Red Bull's back-to-back setbacks.

What's next:

Red Bull has roughly two weeks to complete its investigation and decide whether the rotating wing is fit for purpose at Spa. Reverting to an older specification would likely compromise straight-line speed and energy management, yet the team knows it cannot risk a third failure. The outcome could prove pivotal for both Verstappen's title hopes and the team's technical direction through the remainder of 2026.