Confirmed
FIA clears rotating wings, McLaren plans Dutch GP debut
The FIA has confirmed that rotating rear wings are safe, clearing their continued use in Formula 1. McLaren aims to debut its version.
The FIA has confirmed that the innovative rotating rear wing concept, unofficially known as the "Macarena wing," meets safety standards and will not face regulatory action. This decision clears the way for its continued use and development in Formula 2026.
FIA Confirms Wing Safety
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA single-seater director, stated that the FIA has assessed the design and is satisfied with its safety. This follows a period of scrutiny, particularly after two consecutive incidents involving Max Verstappen's car at Spielberg and Silverstone. The FIA had requested additional information from both Ferrari and Red Bull Racing regarding their respective systems. This inquiry was a standard procedure to understand the designs fully and ensure equal treatment of the teams involved. S1 reports Tombazis saying the FIA is "happy for the novel wings to stay in F1."
Ferrari was the first team to introduce a rotating rear wing during winter testing. Red Bull Racing subsequently developed its own version, which debuted at the Miami Grand Prix. The Red Bull design, according to technical director Pierre Wache, was independently conceived and operates differently from Ferrari's, even rotating in the opposite direction. McLaren has also been developing a similar system.
McLaren's Implementation Plans
McLaren has already conducted testing of its own rotating rear wing. The team intends to race the new component during "one of the first weekends after the summer break." The upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for August 21, presents a potential debut for McLaren's interpretation of the technology. Lando Norris secured a victory for McLaren at the Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing 15.080 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. This win placed Norris fifth in the F1 drivers' championship with 128 points, behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli (219), Lewis Hamilton (169), George Russell (160), and Charles Leclerc (138).
Broader Adoption Expected
With the FIA's confirmation, more teams are likely to introduce their versions of the rotating rear wing. Several constructors are reportedly developing their own designs. The initial race weekends saw both Ferrari and Red Bull's systems operate without issues, but the incidents at Spielberg and Silverstone prompted the FIA's deeper review.
Finnish Drivers In F1
Valtteri Bottas, the sole Finnish driver in the 2026 Formula 1 season, currently sits 21st in the drivers' championship with 0 points. He finished 13th at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The FIA's ruling on the rotating rear wing does not directly affect Bottas's current team or its immediate technical plans, as they have not yet debuted such a system. The Finnish motorsport contingent also sees Kalle Rovanperä and Esapekka Lappi competing in the World Rally Championship. Lappi is sixth in WRC with 25 points, while Kalle Rovanperä is not currently in the top 6 of the WRC championship. Elfyn Evans leads with 201 points, followed by Sami Pajari (171), Takamoto Katsuta (160), Oliver Solberg (156), and Sébastien Ogier (139). Four WRC rounds remain.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Aino Virtanen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Autosport F1autosport.com
