Red Bull Reverts to Conventional Rear Wing After Verstappen Crashes

Red Bull Responds to Safety Concerns

Red Bull Racing will return to a conventional rear wing design for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, following high-speed crashes involving Max Verstappen in the team's two previous races. The decision was confirmed to BBC Sport by Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who said the team had discovered a problem with their previous wing during tests conducted since the race at Silverstone.

Red Bull ran a short filming day test at the Silverstone circuit last week, which led to the identification of the issue. The decision to change the wing design for the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix comes as a direct response to the findings from that testing session.

An Innovative Design With Unexpected Risks

Red Bull and Ferrari have pioneered a novel rear wing concept this season, in which the top flap rotates more than 180 degrees to enter straight-line mode. This innovative approach delivers a greater reduction in drag compared to standard wings, resulting in increased straight-line speed.

However, the mechanism has proven problematic in specific high-speed corner scenarios. Verstappen experienced two crashes — one during the British Grand Prix and another during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix — both of which were linked to the way the wing closed upon entry into high-speed corners.

The incidents were caused by an aerodynamic disruption that occurred as the wing transitioned back from its open straight-line configuration to its closed cornering mode. The problem arose specifically when the wing was reverting to its cornering mode after being open on the straights, creating conditions that Verstappen described as "super-dangerous."

Investigating the Root Cause

Mekies declined to elaborate on exactly what is causing the problem. However, the issue is believed to be related to the airflow not fully reattaching quickly enough when the wing closes after being open on the straights.

If this assessment is correct, it would result in a loss of rear downforce at a critical moment — precisely when the car is entering a high-speed corner and relying on maximum aerodynamic grip to maintain stability. Such a sudden loss of downforce would explain why Verstappen suffered spins in both incidents.

By reverting to a wing that opens for straight-line mode in standard fashion, Red Bull is eliminating the variable that has been linked to the aerodynamic instability. The conventional design does not rely on the same rotating-flap mechanism that has been associated with the disruption.

A Change of Direction for the Belgian Grand Prix

The decision represents a notable shift for Red Bull, who alongside Ferrari had been at the forefront of this particular aerodynamic innovation during the current Formula 1 season. The team will now rely on a conventional rear wing design as they head into the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

The standard wing does not offer the same level of drag reduction as the rotating-flap design, which had provided increased straight-line speed. Red Bull's decision to revert to the conventional configuration follows the problems identified during their Silverstone testing.

What do you think about Red Bull's decision to revert to a conventional rear wing? Will the change be enough to prevent further incidents for Verstappen at the Belgian Grand Prix? Share this article and join the conversation.

Source: BBC Sport