The FIA has confirmed that the rotating rear wing concept, popularly known as the "Macarena wing," will remain legal in Formula 1®. This decision comes after a thorough safety evaluation, despite Red Bull Racing needing to carry out additional technical work following incidents involving Max Verstappen.
The innovation first appeared during the 2026 winter testing when Ferrari introduced their rotating rear wing design, catching several teams, including McLaren, by surprise. Red Bull Racing independently developed their own version, which rotates in the opposite direction to Ferrari’s system. Red Bull debuted their design at the Miami Grand Prix, but after Verstappen experienced crashes in Spielberg and Silverstone, the FIA requested further technical details to address safety concerns.
As more teams explore similar aerodynamic solutions, the FIA’s single-seater director, Nikolas Tombazis, confirmed that the overall concept is considered safe and will remain permitted in the championship. The FIA's safety assessment focused on failure mode analysis, particularly hydraulic reliability and the speed of wing movement, to ensure the system does not destabilize the car during operation.
Red Bull was not banned from using their rotating wing but chose to revert temporarily to a conventional rear wing at the Belgian Grand Prix to address mechanical issues. After completing the necessary technical improvements, the team resumed using the rotating wing at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, McLaren has also tested a rotating wing and plans to introduce it in races shortly after the summer break.
While Ferrari was the first to unveil the rotating rear wing concept, the technical differences between their system and Red Bull’s remain limited to the direction of rotation, with no further detailed comparisons publicly available. The FIA continues to monitor the development of these systems as they become more widespread among teams.
This approval underlines the FIA’s commitment to balancing innovation with safety in the evolving technical landscape of Formula 1®. The rotating rear wing remains an intriguing aerodynamic development, with teams refining their designs to maximize performance within the regulatory framework.