Max Verstappen Calls Red Bull Wing Failure Super-Danger

Two Consecutive Crashes Raise Safety Concerns

Max Verstappen described the rear‑wing problem that forced him into two successive crashes as “super‑dangerous.” At the British Grand Prix he lost control on lap 48 while battling Lewis Hamilton for second place, spinning high‑speed at Stowe corner. The same issue struck earlier in the weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix during qualifying, where the wing failed to close as the car entered a turn. Both incidents happened because the straight‑line mode shut off the wing too abruptly, leaving the car with a loss of downforce.

Red Bull’s Unique Rear Wing System

Red Bull uses a unconventional opening mechanism that differs from the classic DRS flap. Instead of a front‑edge flap flipping upward, the Red Bull wing pivots backward, turning almost upside‑down to achieve a much wider opening. Ferrari adopted a similar but distinct rotation, while most teams stick to the traditional DRS design. McLaren tested a comparable wing at Austria but kept it off the car after garage checks showed it wasn’t ready for track use. The wider opening is intended to cut drag and boost straight‑line speed, yet it appears prone to mis‑behaviour under cornering loads.

Championship Standings and Career Pressure

After nine races Verstappen sits seventh overall, 103 points behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who leads the championship. Three of his outings this season have ended in retirement, all traced to car‑related issues. He finished close second in Austria but was unhappy with the car’s balance at Silverstone. “I want to just finish races, first of all,” he said, highlighting how reliability has become a bigger worry than raw pace.

Team Response and Development Plans

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the driver’s frustration, noting it’s “very unpleasant for drivers to be let down by the car in high‑speed corners twice in a row.” The outfit is treating the problem with the utmost seriousness and says it will implement whatever changes are needed to prevent further wing failures. Mekies added that the current setback means “the minimum Max can achieve today is being unhappy,” underscoring the team’s focus on swift improvements.

Future Contract Talks and Possible Moves

Verstappen remains under contract through 2028, but performance clauses give him the option to leave after this season if the car does not improve. His management are actively reviewing all realistic options, including seats at Mercedes and McLaren, to determine the best path for next year. The ongoing technical struggles are clearly influencing those deliberations, making the upcoming negotiations a critical moment for both driver and team.

Looking Ahead

The double‑wing failure highlights a safety risk that could have left Verstappen seriously injured, reinforcing the need for robust development before the next round. Red Bull must balance its aggressive drag‑reduction philosophy with reliability, especially as rivals watch closely. For Verstappen, turning the frustration into a faster car could decide whether he stays in the Red Bull cockpit or pursues a new challenge in 2026.