Red Bull Tests Its Own 'Macarena' Rear Wing on RB22

Red Bull has developed its own interpretation of Ferrari's innovative 'macarena' rear wing, spotted on the RB22 during a filming day at Silverstone. The design, which differs from Ferrari's implementation, aims to boost straight-line speed, but it remains unconfirmed if it will race at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix as the team seeks to recover from a difficult start to the season.

Why it matters:

This move signals Red Bull's urgent push to close a performance gap and directly counter a technical innovation from a rival. The 'macarena' wing concept, focused on reducing drag for higher top speeds, could be a crucial tool in the development war, especially on circuits with long straights like Miami. Red Bull's adaptation shows they are not merely copying but engineering their own solution to a perceived aerodynamic advantage.

The details:

• The wing was seen during a filming day at Silverstone with Max Verstappen driving, part of a suite of upgrades being evaluated.
• Key Design Difference: Unlike Ferrari's SF-26, which houses the moving mechanism within the endplates, Red Bull's version is centrally mounted within the main rear wing structure.
• Additional Elements: Red Bull has added extra winglets on the endplates, intended to better manage airflow and reduce turbulence generated by the new moving parts.
• Ferrari's Parallel Development: The Scuderia also tested its latest 'macarena' iteration during a Monza filming day, alongside a revised front wing and updated floor. The team had initially debuted the concept in China but did not race it there or in Japan.
• Other Ferrari Updates: New fin elements at the base of the halo, previously trialed in China, reappeared. These are designed to smooth airflow toward the engine intake and rear bodywork for a small aerodynamic gain.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether Red Bull commits the new rear wing to its Miami GP package. The decision will be a clear indicator of the upgrade's perceived reliability and performance benefit.

• If successful, it could provide Red Bull with a valuable straight-line speed advantage on the Miami International Autodrome's long back straight.
• Ferrari's decision on whether to race its own evolved version will set the stage for a direct technical comparison between the two competing concepts during a race weekend.