Red Bull Adopts Ferrari’s Upside‑Down Rear Wing, Posts Fastest FP1 Lap Behind Leclerc

Context Ferrari unveiled an inverted rear wing during Bahrain testing, rotating the top flap so it points upward when the car is in straight‑line mode. The design creates a larger gap between the flap and the wing’s endplates, reducing aerodynamic drag. Regulations require the wing to move within a set time, a hurdle Ferrari only recently cleared.

Key Facts Red Bull replicated the concept and pushed the opening further by redesigning the wing’s pivot mechanism and its attachment points near the centreline. Team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the inverted wing will stay on the car after a brief trial in Miami. In the first practice session (FP1) at the Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen posted the second‑quickest lap, 0.3 seconds slower than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while running the new wing as part of a broader upgrade package.

What It Means The larger opening promises lower drag on the straights, potentially boosting top speed without sacrificing downforce in corners. By being the first to field the design in competition, Red Bull may gain a marginal advantage while other teams evaluate the concept. If the performance gap widens, the inverted wing could become a new standard, prompting further aerodynamic arms races ahead of the next race weekend.

Looking Ahead Watch the qualifying session in Miami for a direct comparison of lap times with the new wing fully deployed, and monitor other teams’ responses as the season progresses.