Red Bull Racing appears to have taken clear aerodynamic inspiration from Ferrari’s latest innovations, as the controversial “macarena wing” design—first introduced on the Ferrari SF-26—has now been spotted on the updated Red Bull RB22 during recent track activity.
The development comes after Max Verstappen completed testing work at Silverstone with a heavily revised version of the RB22, a package designed to prepare the team for key performance upgrades ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. The revised car featured a series of aerodynamic modifications, including redesigned sidepods, refinements to the front wing area, and a number of airflow-focused adjustments around the engine cover.
However, the most notable discovery from the latest on-track images is the presence of Ferrari’s distinctive macarena-style rear wing concept now fitted to the Red Bull machine, marking a significant convergence in aerodynamic philosophy between two of Formula 1’s leading teams.
Ferrari development cycle and temporary abandonment of the concept
Ferrari initially introduced the macarena wing concept on the SF-26 during pre-season testing in Bahrain. The design is characterized by a rear wing flap capable of rotating up to 180 degrees, significantly reducing aerodynamic drag on straights while maintaining efficiency through corners.
Although the Scuderia Ferrari team also experimented with the concept during free practice sessions at the Chinese Grand Prix, early implementation revealed balance and stability concerns at high-speed sections of the circuit. As a result, Ferrari engineers opted to temporarily shelve the solution while continuing internal development work.
According to technical understanding from within the paddock, Ferrari engineers—including those working closely with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc—continued refining the concept through extensive simulator correlation work and aerodynamic validation programs. This included a dedicated 200-kilometre filming day run at Monza, aimed at validating revised airflow behavior and structural stability.
Following this development phase, Ferrari is now expected to reintroduce the updated macarena rear wing concept on the SF-26 during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, suggesting that initial weaknesses may have been resolved through iterative design improvements.
Red Bull RB22 evolution and Ferrari-inspired aerodynamic direction
Red Bull Racing, which has been facing increasing pressure with the RB22 development cycle, has reportedly begun incorporating several design principles seen on the Ferrari package. The updated version of the car—internally referred to as “RB22 2.0”—was first seen at Silverstone with Max Verstappen behind the wheel.
Among the most visible updates is a pair of small aerodynamic winglets mounted laterally on the Halo structure, positioned in front of the driver’s helmet. These elements are designed to improve airflow management around the cockpit area, reducing turbulence and increasing overall aerodynamic efficiency.
More recent leaked technical images of the next iteration of the Red Bull package suggest an even more significant shift, as the team has now adopted a version of the macarena rear wing concept. While retaining its own structural interpretation with a central support element, the philosophy clearly mirrors the Ferrari SF-26 solution in terms of airflow control and drag reduction strategy.
Early paddock estimates indicate that this type of rear wing configuration could provide a top-speed advantage of between 5 and 10 km/h on long straights, a gain that could prove crucial in high-speed circuits like Miami and Monza.
Technical convergence between Ferrari and Red Bull intensifies
The adoption of Ferrari-inspired aerodynamic solutions by Red Bull highlights an increasingly tight technical battle between the two teams, with both organizations pushing aggressively in development cycles as Formula 1 enters a highly competitive aerodynamic phase.
With Ferrari continuing to refine the SF-26 alongside Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and Red Bull Racing introducing rapid iterative upgrades to support Max Verstappen, the direction of development convergence is becoming more evident with each race weekend.
As both teams prepare for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, the effectiveness of the macarena wing concept—both in its Ferrari and Red Bull interpretations—will be closely monitored, potentially shaping the aerodynamic direction of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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