Red Bull Back to Regular Rear Wing After Verstappen Spins

Team Confirms Wing Change for the Belgian Grand Prix

Red Bull will revert to a conventional rear wing for this weekend’s race at Spa‑Francorchamps. Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the decision after tests at Silverstone uncovered a problem with the current design. The move comes after two high‑speed crashes involving Max Verstappen that forced the team to reconsider the aerodynamic package.

The new wing adopts a standard straight‑line opening mechanism, differing from the innovative flap‑rotation system used earlier in the season. Red Bull and Ferrari pioneered a design where the top flap spins more than 180 degrees to reduce drag and boost top speed. The recent issues, however, made the system unreliable under cornering loads.

Verstappen’s Spins Linked to Airflow Disruption

Verstappen crashed during the British Grand Prix and again in qualifying at Austria. Both incidents were traced to an aerodynamic disruption when the wing transitioned from open to closed mode. The airflow failed to reattach quickly, causing a loss of rear downforce and leading to loss of control.

The driver described the situation as “super‑dangerous”, highlighting the safety concerns that prompted the wing change. While Mekies did not provide detailed engineering specifics, the problem is believed to stem from insufficient airflow reattachment during wing closure.

How the New Wing Impacts Performance

A return to a conventional rear wing sacrifices some straight‑line speed but restores predictable handling through high‑speed corners. The previous design, while offering greater drag reduction, proved unstable under the forces Verstappen experiences. Balancing outright speed with stability will be crucial for the Belgian circuit’s mix of long straights and fast chicanes.

The decision follows a brief ‘filming day’ test at Silverstone, where the team evaluated the older wing’s behavior. This short session gave Red Bull enough data to confirm the aerodynamic issues and justify reverting to the more reliable setup for Spa.