For the second consecutive race weekend, Max Verstappen crashed as a consequence of a difficulty with Pink Bull’s rear wing, though the four-time world champion instantly careworn that the 2 failures had been attributable to completely different issues.
“A special fault, for instance, however the identical end result,” Verstappen defined.
After the crash in Spielberg, the place Verstappen went off on the finish of Q3, Pink Bull stated it understood the reason for that particular failure. It’s all the extra regarding {that a} completely different rear wing subject emerged on the very subsequent race weekend – one the group had not anticipated.
Pink Bull’s rear wing has attracted explicit consideration as a result of its lively aerodynamic system creates the most important opening on the grid.
The group launched its personal model of the ‘Macarena wing’ in Miami, with technical director Pierre Wache telling Autosport that the inspiration had not come from Ferrari.
The design can be completely different. Whereas Ferrari’s rear wing can rotate by as much as 270 levels in a single course, Pink Bull’s rotates by as much as 160 levels in the other way.
Pink Bull started working by itself idea in November 2025 and initially supposed to introduce it in Melbourne. Nevertheless, the group was not glad with it on the time, delaying its debut till Miami.
Pink Bull’s model of the Macarena wing is efficient at lowering drag, however has already induced two crashes
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
“No stone unturned” in rear wing investigation
Though Pink Bull’s idea seems efficient in lowering drag, security should all the time come first. That applies not solely to the FIA – which has been concerned within the design course of from the very starting – but additionally to the drivers.
Verstappen described the current rear wing incidents as “tremendous harmful”, a priority that turns into much more related with the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit developing.
It means Pink Bull can solely race the wing once more on the Belgian Grand Prix whether it is utterly satisfied that each one of its teething issues have been eradicated. That investigation is now underway.
“We’re going to evaluate the total space to verify we go away zero likelihood for that to occur once more,” Mekies stated on Sunday night when requested in regards to the two separate failures.
Leaving zero likelihood of a repeat successfully signifies that each choice stays on the desk – together with not utilizing the rotating rear wing at Spa.
Pink Bull nonetheless believes within the idea, but additionally is aware of it can not afford one other failure, significantly given Verstappen’s dissatisfaction behind the scenes.
“We’ll do no matter is important to be on the protected aspect,” stated Mekies. “Now we have raced fairly just a few races with that idea now. Now we have raced since Miami, I believe. So, it has been plenty of races.
“It is too early within the evaluation to ascertain whether or not it is a difficulty with the idea or one thing else. However we’re for positive going to go away no stone unturned in the case of it. And we have now all of the choices open.”
Pink Bull can not afford to danger a 3rd crash, particularly given Verstappen’s frustration behind the scenes
Picture by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
McLaren has taken a extra cautious strategy
These choices embrace quickly reverting to an older, extra standard rear wing specification for Spa. Naturally, the technical group led by Wache would quite keep away from that, as it will characterize a step backwards when it comes to drag discount and subsequently outright efficiency.
That’s significantly important at an energy-starved circuit comparable to Spa, the place vitality administration is as soon as once more anticipated to play an important function – an space through which Pink Bull has not excelled to this point this season. That makes each little bit of drag discount worthwhile.
But when any doubt stays over the present specification – and if that doubt can’t be eradicated throughout the subsequent two weeks – then Pink Bull has little alternative however to be on the protected aspect.
One other setback like these in Spielberg and Silverstone is the very last thing the group wants, particularly given Verstappen’s frustrations on Sunday evening.
Apparently, McLaren introduced its personal rotating rear wing to Spielberg for the primary time, however selected to not use it there as a result of the group didn’t but take into account the design prepared, not even for a free observe session.
The group additionally didn’t run it at Silverstone because of the dash format, that means Spa might grow to be its first actual take a look at. In gentle of Pink Bull’s current issues, McLaren’s cautious strategy is simple to grasp.
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