Red Bull's sacrifice for Verstappen's safety

In Formula 1, safety has taken precedence over performance. According to the report, Red Bull have decided not to use the controversial "Macarena" (rotating) rear wing on Max Verstappen's car at the Belgian GP. The decision comes after the Dutch driver suffered frightening crashes in back-to-back weekends: the wing failed to close fully during qualifying in Austria and again during the race at Silverstone, with Verstappen running off track both times due to a sudden loss of downforce.

The driver's own reaction lends weight to the reasoning behind the decision. The four-time world champion made his frustration clear after Silverstone, saying: "It's super dangerous, because you can really hurt yourself, twice! I was lucky in Austria, I was lucky here, but that's why you get really fed up with it."

The official dimension of the process is also in play. The FIA had contacted both Red Bull and Ferrari, who use the same concept, requesting additional technical information on whether the system meets safety requirements. Although the governing body has not yet issued a definitive ban — Red Bull are reported to still be permitted to use the wing as normal in Belgium — the team chose to step back on its own initiative. Team principal Laurent Mekies' comments that "we will do whatever is necessary to be on the safe side, we have all options open" foreshadowed this decision.

The timing of the issue is particularly frustrating for Red Bull. Spa is regarded as the circuit where reducing drag is most critical under the 2026 regulations, precisely the wing's core purpose; parking it means a measurable performance loss on a weekend where the team already struggles with energy management. Against that, however, risking a third crash would have been a far greater disaster for the team at a time when speculation over Verstappen's future is intensifying.

Image: Motorsport