Max Verstappen described the rear wing failure on his Red Bull car as "super-dangerous" after he crashed at two consecutive Formula 1 races. The incidents occurred during the British Grand Prix on July 5, 2026, and the Austrian Grand Prix the previous weekend. Verstappen lost control at the high-speed Stowe corner while chasing Lewis Hamilton for second place.
Details of the Rear Wing Failures
During the British Grand Prix, Verstappen experienced a severe loss of control due to the rear wing failing to close properly as he entered a corner. This issue mirrors a similar incident in Austria, where he also crashed during qualifying. The Dutch driver expressed his frustration over the recurring mechanical failures, stating, "It’s super-dangerous because you can really hurt yourself two times."
He further explained, "Different fault but same outcome. While turning in, the rear wing is not fully attaching and you lose a lot of downforce and just spin off." These incidents have raised significant safety concerns among drivers and teams alike.
Verstappen's Championship Position
Despite his talent and experience, Verstappen finds himself in a challenging position in the championship standings, currently ranked seventh. He is 103 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes after nine races, having retired from three due to car issues. Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "I want to just finish races, first of all. That would be nice. At the moment, too many things go wrong. It’s as simple as that. Not even speaking about pace."
Red Bull's Response to the Failures
Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull, acknowledged Verstappen's concerns, stating, "He’s right not to be happy. It is very unpleasant for drivers to be let down by the car in the high-speed corners in two consecutive races, let it be for two different reasons." Mekies assured fans and stakeholders that the team is committed to resolving these issues.
The design of Red Bull's rear wing differs from traditional models, featuring a mechanism that opens wider for drag reduction. This innovative approach aims to enhance straight-line speed, but the recent failures have prompted the team to reconsider their strategy. Mekies noted that the team has "all options open" regarding the wing's future.
- Verstappen's current championship position: 7th
- Points behind leader Kimi Antonelli: 103
- Races retired due to car issues: 3
- Incidents of rear wing failure: 2
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by BBC Sport. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
