Red Bull had already been working on the eye-catching “Macarena” wing since late 2025—development proceeded independently and much earlier than expected
Red Bull Racing’s spectacular “Macarena” rear wing remains one of the major talking points at the Miami Grand Prix. The eye-catching aero concept is drawing a lot of attention in the paddock—not least because of its unusual appearance and the noticeable effects on the straights.
Recently, the discussion has centered primarily on one question: When exactly did Red Bull actually begin developing this component—and was it designed in parallel with Ferrari’s similar concept?
Mekies clarifies: Development began much earlier
Laurent Mekies, team principal at Red Bull, has provided a clear explanation. According to him, the “Macarena” wing was developed independently of other teams—and significantly earlier than many had assumed.
“What I can say for sure is that the guys developed this concept without having seen the other team’s wing,” explains Mekies. Although it is no longer possible to determine with certainty in hindsight whether Ferrari had the idea first, Red Bull’s development was carried out independently.
Particularly important: Work on the concept began as early as the end of last season, i.e., late 2025. This means it is not a short-term reaction to current developments in the field, but rather a long-term aerodynamics project.
Delayed deployment due to a difficult start to the season
According to Mekies, the fact that the wing is only now being used prominently for the first time in Miami is due to organizational reasons. The start of the season was “relatively difficult” for Red Bull, which meant that priorities in the development program had to be shifted.
“We had to adjust the priorities somewhat,” says Mekies. This delayed the introduction of the wing, even though the basic concept was already well advanced. It was only later in the season that the project could be resumed and finalized, making its use in Miami possible.
Focus on efficiency: A “powerful piece of technology”
Despite the delay, Red Bull is highly satisfied with the result. Internally, the wing is regarded as a successful example of modern aerodynamic development—with the clear goal of reducing drag on the straights without compromising cornering performance too much.
Especially on a track like Miami, with long full-throttle sections and slow corners, the concept was able to showcase its strengths particularly well. Initial impressions from the paddock suggest that the effect is indeed noticeable.
Even as the discussion about possible parallels with Ferrari lingers in the background, Red Bull emphasizes one thing above all: The development was carried out independently and over an extended period of time.