Red Bull vs Ferrari: The battle of the ‘Macarena wing’ heats up for the Miami GP. Ferrari’s innovative ‘Macarena wing’ faces its first real competitive test in Miami.

The ‘Macarena wing’ race begins in Miami: Ferrari could lose its technical advantage

Ferrari had managed to excite its fans when, during the Bahrain pre-season tests, it unveiled its first version of the so-called ‘Macarena wing’—the rear mobile flap capable of rotating more than 180 degrees to reach its operating position when using straight-line mode.

Unfortunately, the Maranello-based team has not yet managed, in the first three races of the season, to properly implement the solution in a way that allows its drivers to fully exploit it on track and gain a clear advantage over rivals.

The ‘Macarena wing’ offers an advantage, but who will use it best?

It was immediately clear that the ‘Macarena wing’ could provide a significant speed benefit. All teams studied the innovation with interest, and some even stated after testing that they would attempt to develop their own versions.

The first real confirmation came yesterday, when the RB22 was spotted on track during a filming day at Silverstone, featuring Red Bull’s interpretation of the ‘Macarena wing’ concept.

McLaren, on the other hand, has not yet revealed anything, but has hinted at important developments. Technical director Rob Marshall stated that it is often easier to develop technical solutions seen on rival cars than those originally designed in-house. A statement that has certainly raised attention within the paddock.

Ferrari’s own testing programme—its third evaluation after Bahrain and the Free Practice sessions at the Chinese Grand Prix—was carried out during a filming day at Monza and reportedly delivered encouraging feedback. However, Miami will represent the true test: will the ‘Macarena wing’ work on the SF-26?

And at this point, will it perform better or worse compared to Red Bull’s prototype version? Having never used it in a race, Ferrari has effectively already lost the element of surprise.

The real question now is which version will deliver the strongest performance. The Macarena wing race is officially underway in Miami. Red Bull and Ferrari have already entered the competition—now we will see who else joins the battle in Florida.

The technical showdown in Miami therefore highlights the relentless pace of development in the 2026 era. While Ferrari pioneered the concept of the ultra-rotating flap, Red Bull’s quick integration suggests that the battle for aerodynamic supremacy is tighter than ever. As the teams head to the high-speed sections of the Miami International Autodrome, the success or failure of the ‘Macarena wing’ could be the deciding factor in who claims the top step of the podium.