Red Bull has launched an investigation into the rear wing failure that ended Max Verstappen’s British Grand Prix, while Team Principal Laurent Mekies admitted the reigning world champion was justified in criticizing the team after another dangerous incident.

Red Bull’s difficult weekend at Silverstone ended in dramatic fashion after Max Verstappen retired from the British Grand Prix following a rear wing failure that caused him to spin into the gravel at Stowe Corner. The incident marked the second consecutive race weekend in which Verstappen experienced a high-speed aerodynamic problem, prompting the team to begin an extensive investigation.

Although Verstappen had been fighting for a podium despite several mechanical issues, the unexpected rear wing failure ended his race and left both the driver and Red Bull searching for answers.

Max Verstappen says Red Bull rear wing failure was dangerous

The Max Verstappen Red Bull rear wing issue became one of the biggest talking points after the British Grand Prix.

Speaking after the race, Verstappen described the incident as “extremely dangerous” because the rear wing failed while he was turning into one of Silverstone’s fastest corners.

“When you turn into the corner, the rear wing isn’t fully attached and you suddenly lose a huge amount of downforce,” Verstappen explained. “You just spin off the track.”

The four-time world champion added that similar failures had already occurred in Austria, making the latest incident even more frustrating.

“I was lucky in Austria, and I was lucky again here. That’s why you eventually get fed up with it.”

Max Verstappen retired from the British Grand Prix after a rear wing failure at Silverstone.

Red Bull admits Verstappen had every reason to be angry

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies defended Verstappen’s reaction after the race, acknowledging that the team understands the seriousness of the incident.

“He’s absolutely right not to be happy,” Mekies said.

“It’s extremely unpleasant for a driver when the car fails in high-speed corners during two consecutive race weekends. We take that very seriously.”

According to Mekies, the initial investigation suggests the Silverstone failure was different from the aerodynamic issue that affected Verstappen in Austria.

However, Red Bull plans to inspect every aspect of the rear wing system before the next race.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned,” Mekies explained. “Everything remains on the table while we investigate.”

Laurent Mekies confirmed Red Bull is investigating the rear wing failure.

Verstappen also questioned Red Bull’s strategic decisions

Beyond the rear wing failure, Verstappen also criticized Red Bull’s decision not to replace his power unit or change the car’s setup after qualifying.

The Dutch driver admitted he wanted to start from the pit lane if it meant solving the mechanical issues he had already identified on Saturday.

“I wanted to start from the pit lane,” Verstappen revealed. “Maybe they believed they could fix the engine deployment issues. I didn’t.”

Mekies defended the team’s decision, arguing that starting from the grid still offered a better opportunity to fight near the front despite the car’s handling problems.

Verstappen also questioned Red Bull’s decision not to replace the engine before the race.

The British Grand Prix exposed several weaknesses for Red Bull, from aerodynamic reliability to setup decisions and mechanical performance. While the team believes the rear wing failure at Silverstone was caused by a different issue than the one seen in Austria, Verstappen made it clear that two similar high-speed incidents in consecutive race weekends are unacceptable. Red Bull now faces an important task before the next Formula 1 event: restoring the reliability and confidence that its reigning world champion expects from a title-contending team.