Red Bull’s revised Macarena rear wing operated without issue throughout Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but the team’s attention quickly shifted to a more serious problem: an unstable and unpredictable RB22 that struggled over the unexpected bumps at the Hungaroring. Max Verstappen finished fourth, almost seven-tenths behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, leaving technical director Pierre Waché surprised by the size of the deficit.
Red Bull found itself caught between progress and frustration. The successful return of the rotating rear wing was an important positive, but the RB22’s balance problems meant the difficulties comfortably outweighed the encouraging signs. The gap was particularly disappointing for four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who has regularly produced strong performances in Budapest.
Red Bull Macarena wing passes its first Hungary test
Red Bull arrived at the Hungaroring confident that it had resolved the mechanical problem affecting the movable rear wing. The device had been removed for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps following the safety concerns created by Max Verstappen’s accidents in Austria and Britain, where the rear-wing flaps had not closed correctly. The team had already confirmed the revised Macarena wing’s planned return in Hungary after completing further tests.
Pierre Waché appeared satisfied with the work completed on the actuator and other mechanical components. “We ran all day with the wing fitted and, at the moment, it is behaving correctly,” the Red Bull technical director explained. “At the factory, we carried out a very thorough proof test to make sure the rear wing was not dangerous, which I think is very important. So far, we have not encountered any problems.”
The result means Red Bull appears to have addressed the immediate reliability and safety concerns surrounding the system. The concept shares its Macarena nickname with Ferrari’s own rear-wing development, although the two teams use different mechanical arrangements.
Red Bull modifies the RB22 wing and diffuser
Red Bull’s work was not limited to revising the opening and closing mechanism. The team also introduced performance-focused changes intended for the Hungaroring’s technical, corner-intensive layout, adding to the RB22’s unconventional technical package.
Both rear-wing flaps were redesigned with different chord lengths and angles of incidence. The supporting pylons also feature greater curvature as Red Bull searches for more local downforce and improved airflow stability around the rear of the car.
Smaller changes were visible on the diffuser. Two extensions appeared in its upper section, one rectangular and the other circular, in a solution resembling a design previously used by Mercedes. The objective is to provide greater support and stability at the rear of the RB22.
For now, however, the complete upgrade package has not produced the results Red Bull expected. The explanation offered by Pierre Waché centred on the Hungaroring surface, whose unforeseen bumps and undulations made the RB22 particularly difficult for Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar to drive.
Stiff RB22 set-up leaves Red Bull exposed over Hungaroring bumps
The problems were especially unexpected because Red Bull had anticipated that the circuit’s slower corners could provide a more favourable opportunity, an expectation previously discussed by Isack Hadjar ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Instead, the low-grip surface and bumps made it difficult for both drivers to find a consistent balance.
“It is true that there was no grip, but we did not expect certain undulations in the asphalt that are affecting the car’s balance,” Pierre Waché continued. “Surprisingly, we have to run a rather stiff set-up on this car, and we find ourselves with the same problem we already had with the ground-effect car. With these track conditions, it is very difficult to find a balance.”
Red Bull was therefore caught off guard and turned to overnight simulator work in an attempt to identify a solution before the next session. The team has several possible set-up directions to examine, but even relatively small surface disturbances appear to be producing major changes in the RB22’s behaviour.
“There are some ideas,” Pierre Waché explained, “but we did not expect a small disturbance in the asphalt to have such a huge effect on the balance. The car is not balanced in a way that the driver can use.”
Max Verstappen’s complaints over the radio reflected those difficulties. The Dutch driver repeatedly reported problems during practice, including an uncomfortable seating position and difficulties during gear changes.
Pierre Waché described those concerns as relatively minor and expected Red Bull to address them quickly. “Those are small problems that we will have resolved, while there is a great deal of work to do on everything else,” he concluded.
The revised Macarena wing therefore completed its first day back on the RB22 without a repeat of its previous mechanical problems. Red Bull’s more pressing challenge is now to find a set-up that allows Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar to attack the Hungaroring’s bumps without making the car even more unstable.
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