Red Bull targets Hungarian GP for rotating wing return
Red Bull intends to re-introduce its rotating rear wing on the RB22 at next week’s Hungarian Grand Prix after resolving a mechanical issue that sidelined the upgrade. Technical director Pierre Wache confirmed the team identified the problem following Max Verstappen’s crash at Silverstone, having already suffered an incident in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring. The wing, which improves straightline performance in its open mode, was pioneered by Ferrari under Formula 1’s new ruleset and adopted by Red Bull at the Miami Grand Prix before Verstappen branded it “super dangerous.”
The issue centered on the wing’s actuator, prompting Red Bull to revert to a conventional rear wing for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. Wache explained the team has since diagnosed the failure and discussed the fix with the FIA given the safety implications. “We looked at the wing and we know what happened, we know how to fix it,” Wache said, adding they are working to prove the solution is bulletproof before reinstalling it for Budapest.
Verstappen leads practice but balance concerns remain
Verstappen topped Free Practice 1 at Spa-Francorchamps before placing third in the second session, nearly half a second behind pacesetter Kimi Antonelli with McLaren’s Lando Norris splitting them. Despite the strong showing, Wache suggested the world champion may not be fully satisfied. “It’s a good starting point, but still, I’m not sure he’s happy with what I heard,” the Frenchman noted.
Wache highlighted specific areas requiring improvement ahead of qualifying and the race. The team still has significant work on the balance side, particularly on short runs, while tyre degradation also presents a clear challenge for the remainder of the weekend.