Red Bull has provided more clarity on the issues with the much-discussed ‘Macarena’ rear wing, which is missing from Max Verstappen’s car this weekend in Belgium. The team decided to revert to a conventional design at Spa-Francorchamps after a malfunction in the new system led to Verstappen’s crashes in Austria and Great Britain. Technical director Pierre Waché elaborates on this choice and hints at a quick return.
Read more Lewis Hamilton warns after first impressions at Spa: ‘Mercedes will be very strong’
Verstappen himself left little doubt on Thursday about the reason for the change. “I think it’s pretty clear, isn’t it?”, Verstappen replied when asked about the reason behind the change. “So yes, we’re going back to the old one and then we’ll see when the newest version is ready to be used again.” During qualifying in Austria and the main race in Great Britain, the Macarena design seemed not to function well when entering corners. Twice the rear broke loose and Verstappen ended up in the wall.
Technical director Pierre Waché confirmed on Friday that the cause of the problem has now been identified. According to the Frenchman, it was a mechanical issue that occurred when the rear wing switched. Red Bull has since fixed the fault and expects to possibly deploy the improved version as early as next week during the Hungarian GP. “It is a mechanical problem that we discovered after the accident in Silverstone,” Waché told the media.
Read more Teams turn against new safety car rules: ‘Leave it to the FIA’
Return in Budapest
“We have solved it and are trying to prove that we can improve it. It should be ready for Budapest,” he continued. “After Silverstone the problem became clear; we looked at the wing and know what happened. We know how to fix it. We just have to make sure the concept is ready and then we can improve it.” Waché did not want to go into the exact details of the system further, as the solution remains part of Red Bull’s ongoing development. “I don’t want to reveal too many details because this wing is still under full development and ultimately needs to deliver performance advantages.”
After the British GP, the FIA requested additional information about the operation of the Macarena rear wings. The organization wants to continue guaranteeing the safety of the drivers. “We take it seriously,” emphasized Waché. “We are consulting internally with the FIA on how to make the car safer and will reinforce the component. You will see it again soon. The FIA has already approved the concept, but on our side, we don’t want to take any more risks,” he added. Still, there is a hint at a return of the wing in Hungary. “It could be interesting for Budapest,” he concluded.
Read more F1 driver Arvid Lindblad is going for his driver’s license: ‘One lesson is enough for me’
Read everything about the Belgian GP here
