Max Verstappen experienced rear wing failures at two consecutive Formula 1 events, resulting in crashes at both the Austrian and British Grand Prix races. At Silverstone, he lost control whilst pursuing second place when his rear wing failed to close properly as he entered a high-speed corner, though the technical causes underlying the two incidents differed. Verstappen expressed serious concern about the safety implications of these failures, describing them as "super-dangerous" and noting that he had been fortunate to escape injury on both occasions.

The failures highlight Red Bull's challenging season, with Verstappen currently seventh in the championship standings over 100 points behind the leader and having retired from three of the nine races to date. Red Bull employs a distinctive rear wing mechanism that produces greater drag reduction than conventional competitors' designs, opening by rotating the front edge backwards rather than upwards. Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the severity of the situation and committed to implementing measures to prevent recurrence, whilst indicating that the team is evaluating all possible options regarding the wing's continued use.