Love triangles have always been viewed as something to avoid, often associated with trouble. In Formula 1, however, a three-way relationship could end up working in Ferrari’s favour.
When it comes to the so-called “Macarena” rear wing, the fact that three teams have now developed similar concepts could prove beneficial for the Scuderia. As previously reported, the FIA has launched an investigation following Max Verstappen‘s recent incidents. Red Bull’s counter-rotating rear wing has experienced operational issues, and this could lead the governing body not only to reject the Milton Keynes team’s solution, but potentially Ferrari’s as well.
The issue with the counter-rotating rear wing
We refer to it as a counter-rotating wing because Ferrari’s flap rotates in an anti-clockwise direction, while Red Bull has opted for the opposite approach, rotating the flap clockwise. That decision, however, appears to have created a significant problem.
With Red Bull’s configuration, the flap does not close as securely. The movable rear wing has to overcome aerodynamic resistance in order to return to its closed position, and that characteristic could become one of the key factors influencing the FIA’s decision in the coming days.
McLaren’s Macarena wing follows the same principles as Ferrari’s
The FIA could ultimately decide to suspend both solutions, but Ferrari may have an important ally in its corner: McLaren.
The Woking-based team has developed a Macarena-style rear wing based on the same engineering principles as Ferrari’s design—already nicknamed the “McMacarena” by some observers—and it is expected to make its race debut either at the Belgian Grand Prix or in Hungary. McLaren initially brought the concept to Austria, but encountered a number of issues, much like Ferrari did during the opening races of the season.
The concept still requires further refinement, but the fact that McLaren’s Macarena wing is based on the same technical philosophy as Ferrari’s could provide valuable support for the Maranello team. While the FIA may identify genuine safety concerns with Red Bull’s specific implementation, the fact that Ferrari and McLaren have developed different versions of the concept could encourage the governing body to assess their solutions separately.
That is where Ferrari’s strongest argument may lie. If the FIA concludes that Red Bull’s design suffers from a unique mechanical weakness rather than an issue inherent to the concept itself, Ferrari and McLaren could both emerge from the investigation with their respective Macarena wings still approved for competition.
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