Red Bull has failed to replicate Ferrari’s success with the reverse wing concept, forcing the team to abandon the solution after a series of reliability issues. Following problems encountered in both Austria and Silverstone, the Milton Keynes squad has reverted to a conventional rear wing configuration for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
In an attempt to challenge Ferrari on the aerodynamic front, Red Bull introduced its own interpretation of the reverse wing. However, the new design failed to deliver the expected results. Mechanical failures affecting the system responsible for rotating the aerodynamic element caused Max Verstappen to lose control and go off track in both the Austrian and British Grands Prix.
After carefully reviewing the data and evaluating the risks, the engineering team led by Pierre Waché decided to scrap what had been dubbed the “Macarena made in Milton Keynes.”
During Friday morning preparations at Spa-Francorchamps, both Max Verstappen’s RB22 and Isack Hadjar’s car were fitted with the older rear wing specification, which does not feature the reversible mechanism.
Is this the definitive end of the concept? It is still too early to say. What is certain, however, is that Red Bull has chosen to take a step back at a circuit where the potential benefits of such a solution could have been especially significant. The decision suggests the team was concerned about the possibility of further technical failures, as well as the safety implications, because Spa-Francorchamps is a circuit that leaves no room for mistakes.
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