Skip to content
https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
Red Bull issues crucial update on faulty upgrade after Verstappen crashes
Highlights
- Red Bull removed upside-down rear wing for Belgian Grand Prix weekend
- Wing removal followed Verstappen crashes linked to mechanical fault
- Verstappen topped first practice; Hadjar placed fifth without upgrade
- Technical director Pierre Waché stressed safety and ongoing fixes
- Upside-down wing to return after full mechanical and safety checks
- Team remains competitive despite reverting to original rear wing
Red Bull removes its inverted rear wing for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, reverting to baseline spec after Max Verstappen’s crashes exposed a mechanical fault in the upgrade.
The part debuts in Miami, then appears at subsequent rounds, but incidents in Austria and Silverstone prompt a reset while engineers validate a solution and expand safety checks.
Red Bull removes the upside-down rear wing at Spa following Verstappen incidents in Austria and Silverstone.
Performance holds up. Verstappen tops first practice and takes third in FP2, while Isack Hadjar places fifth, indicating Red Bull retains competitiveness without the low‑drag benefit of the new wing.
Technical director Pierre Waché highlights Spa’s demands, citing energy recovery and deployment management, plus balance trimming through the middle sector, as the team maps run plans and tyre usage.
He confirms a fix exists but will not race the wing until both cars run it risk‑free, echoing Verstappen and Red Bull’s commitment to prioritise safety.
“Our first priority is to make sure that the car is completely safe for the drivers.”
Reverting costs some straight‑line efficiency, valuable at Spa, yet the baseline package offers predictable balance and braking stability, which can unlock stint consistency as tyre degradation rises.
Red Bull outlines the issue and validation plan in its Spa wing update, building on lessons from the Austrian GP upgrade phase.
Operationally, the call reduces variables for qualifying and race trim, allowing the group to focus on deployment targets, ride, and aero‑mechanical correlation while updates progress through sign‑off.
The inverted wing returns only after full mechanical validation and safety sign‑off for both cars.
With a fix identified and checks underway, the wing is expected to return once reliability thresholds are met, potentially shaping mid‑season momentum within the 2026 Formula 1 calendar narrative.
Visual Summary
⚠
Red Bull Grounds the Upside-Down Wing SAFETY FIRST
After crashes for Verstappen, Red Bull removed their new upside-down rear wing for Spa.
Result: Both drivers stayed quick – Verstappen topped practice 1 and finished P3 in 2nd session, proving pace minus the risky upgrade.
The bold but broken upgrade will return only once 100% safe.
Result: Both drivers stayed quick – Verstappen topped practice 1 and finished P3 in 2nd session, proving pace minus the risky upgrade.
The bold but broken upgrade will return only once 100% safe.
Speed + Safety
Upgrade Paused
Upgrade Paused
🕑
Miami
Austria
Silverstone
Spa
Miami
Austria
Silverstone
Spa
⏸
Wing Launch
Crashes
Upgrade Out
Crashes
Upgrade Out
“Our first priority is safety.”
Red Bull’s upside-down rear wing returns only when it’s risk-free.
Meanwhile, the fight for the championship—and innovation—rolls on.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
