Red Bull takes inspiration from Ferrari… but in its own way: the “Macarena” wing, reimagined
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In Formula 1, copying isn't cheating. It's often even considered a compliment. And this time, it's Red Bull that's taken a look at an idea from Ferrari—with the clear intention of putting its own spin on it.
At Silverstone, during a test day, the updated RB22 quietly revealed its new features. And at the center of the discussion: a rear wing inspired by Ferrari's famous “Macarena” concept.
The principle? Rotating the wing on a straightaway to reduce drag. Less air resistance, higher top speed. On paper, it sounds almost too good to be true.
But where Ferrari opted for a sophisticated solution—with actuators integrated into the sidepods capable of rotating the entire unit by more than 200 degrees—Red Bull chose a more… pragmatic approach.
Embracing simplicity, seeking efficiency
At Red Bull, there's no structural revolution. The team retains a central vertical actuator and adapts the mechanical linkages. The result: a more limited rotation, around 110 to 120 degrees, but a simpler system that's faster to develop and, above all, less risky.
In short, while Ferrari is playing the card of maximum aerodynamic finesse, Red Bull is banking on robustness and getting the car on the track quickly. A well-known philosophy in Milton Keynes: keep it simple, but do it well.
And in a sport where vibrations, stress, and weekends with no safety net are the norm, reducing the number of moving parts is never a bad idea.
A compromise… as always in F1
Of course, not everything is perfect. The central actuator slightly disrupts the airflow, which could cost a few tenths of a second on the fastest circuits like Autodromo Nazionale Monza or Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
But Red Bull is betting on something else: faster development and greater consistency. Because in F1, a slightly less efficient but perfectly controlled solution can be worth more than a brilliant… but temperamental concept.
A comprehensive evolution, not just a gimmick
This new wing doesn't come alone. The RB22 spotted at Silverstone also featured:
- redesigned sidepods
- a reworked front wing
- aerodynamic adjustments extending all the way to the halo
In short, this isn't a tweak—it's a full-fledged update. A direct response to a start to the season that fell slightly short of the team's standards.
Ferrari fine-tunes while Red Bull rolls out
Over in Maranello, they aren't sitting idly by. The “Macarena” concept, briefly glimpsed and then withdrawn, is currently being optimized.
Lewis Hamilton himself admitted it: its initial introduction was undoubtedly a bit rushed. Since then, Ferrari has taken the time to fine-tune it, with recent tests at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Two approaches, two paces: Red Bull refines on the track, Ferrari polishes in-house.
This kind of adaptation is nothing out of the ordinary. We saw it with Brawn GP's double diffuser in 2009 or McLaren's F-duct in 2010: a good idea never stays isolated for long.
If Red Bull is interested, it's because the potential is very real.
Toward a snowball effect?
The real question now is simple: which version will be more effective on the track?
Ferrari could retain the pure advantage in top speed. Red Bull, on the other hand, could capitalize on reliability and quick implementation.
And as is often the case in F1, if the advantage is confirmed, the rest of the grid won't be far behind.
In the meantime, one thing is certain: even when it copies, Red Bull never really copies. And that is undoubtedly where the difference lies.
