Red Bull have refused to rule out abandoning their current rear-wing concept after Max Verstappen suffered another high-speed aerodynamic failure during the British Grand Prix, with team principal Laurent Mekies admitting “all options” are under consideration.
Verstappen’s race at Silverstone unravelled when he spun into the gravel at Stowe after the rear wing failed to reattach airflow correctly, marking the second race in succession that a rear-wing issue has caught out the former world champion.
Laurent Mekies responds after Max Verstappen Silverstone crash
The latest incident came just one week after a similar problem disrupted Verstappen’s qualifying session at the Austrian Grand Prix.
While Verstappen described the latest failure as “super dangerous”, Mekies accepted the Dutchman’s frustration and stressed Red Bull would prioritise preventing another recurrence.
“Max is right not to be happy; it is very unpleasant for drivers to be let down by the car in high-speed corners in two consecutive races,” Mekies told reporters.
He also clarified that, although the failures appeared similar from the outside, the underlying causes were different.
“From the early analysis, we have suffered a different type of failure. It doesn’t make it better, but we are going to review to make sure we leave zero chance.”
Mekies added that Red Bull would “do whatever is necessary” to ensure the problem is eliminated before the next race.
Red Bull open to removing ‘Macarena’ rear wing
One option now under consideration is abandoning the rear-wing specification introduced at the Miami Grand Prix.
The design, informally nicknamed the “Macarena” rear wing, has been used throughout recent races but has now come under renewed scrutiny following Verstappen’s back-to-back incidents.
When asked whether Red Bull could revert to an earlier specification, Mekies refused to dismiss the possibility.
“We have raced quite a few races now with that concept, and it is too early in the analysis to establish whether it is an issue with the concept, but we are going to leave no stone unturned when it comes and all options are possible.”
His comments suggest Red Bull are prepared to make significant changes if ongoing investigations reveal a link between the aerodynamic package and the recurring failures.
Max Verstappen concerns raise fresh questions for Red Bull
Verstappen’s criticism reflects growing concern over reliability rather than outright performance.
The failures have occurred in high-speed corners where aerodynamic stability is critical, leaving the four-time world champion unexpectedly without rear grip. Such incidents carry obvious safety implications, particularly given the speeds involved at circuits like Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring.
Although Mekies insisted the team understands the cause of the Austrian failure, he declined to reveal technical details.
According to RacingNews365, Red Bull believes the Silverstone incident stemmed from a different issue and that engineers are now conducting a full investigation before deciding whether changes to the rear-wing package are required.
Focus shifts to Red Bull’s response before Spa
The British Grand Prix has intensified scrutiny over Red Bull’s current development direction at a time when the margins at the front of Formula 1 continue to narrow.
If the investigation concludes the latest rear-wing concept carries an inherent risk, Red Bull may have little choice but to return to an earlier specification despite any potential performance compromise.
With the championship battle entering a crucial phase, the team’s response before the next round could prove just as significant as Verstappen’s result at Silverstone.