Breaking News: Red Bull’s Big Reaction as New McLaren Ruling Is Issued Following Allegations
The Formula 1 paddock is buzzing with tension following the FIA’s latest verdict on McLaren’s MCL39 car, prompted by allegations from rivals, notably Red Bull, regarding the team’s tyre cooling methods. The controversy, which has been simmering since the 2024 season, reached a boiling point after McLaren’s dominant performance at the Miami Grand Prix in 2025. Red Bull’s suspicions about McLaren’s superior tyre management led to an intensive investigation by the FIA, and the governing body’s recent findings have sparked a fiery response from the Milton Keynes-based team. This development has not only reignited debates about technical regulations but also highlighted the fierce competition at the top of the sport.
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The saga began when Red Bull, struggling to match McLaren’s race pace, raised concerns about the legality of the MCL39’s rear brake and tyre cooling systems. Reports from Auto Motor und Sport suggested that Red Bull had resorted to using thermal imaging cameras to monitor McLaren’s pit stops, noting unusually cool tyre temperatures around the brake vents. These observations fueled speculation that McLaren might be employing an illegal method, such as water injection, to manage tyre temperatures—a practice banned under F1’s technical regulations. Red Bull’s suspicions were not new; similar allegations surfaced in 2024, but both the FIA and Pirelli found no evidence to support claims of wrongdoing.
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Following McLaren’s commanding 1-2 finish in Miami, where Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris left the field in their wake, the FIA conducted an extensive inspection of the MCL39. The investigation focused on the rear braking system, which is believed to be a key factor in McLaren’s ability to maintain optimal tyre temperatures, giving them a significant advantage in hot conditions like those in Miami and Bahrain. On May 15, 2025, the FIA announced that McLaren’s car fully complied with the 2025 technical regulations, dismissing Red Bull’s allegations as unfounded. The verdict was a major blow to Red Bull, who had hoped for a ruling that might curb McLaren’s dominance.
Red Bull’s reaction was swift and unapologetic. Team principal Christian Horner, while acknowledging McLaren’s strong performance, hinted that the team would continue to scrutinize their rivals’ designs. “We’re not suggesting anything illegal, but McLaren are clearly doing something extraordinary with their tyre management,” Horner said, emphasizing the need for transparency in the sport. Red Bull’s chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, downplayed the idea of a “magic” solution, instead pointing to McLaren’s clever aerodynamic approach to heat management. Meanwhile, senior advisor Helmut Marko expressed frustration, describing Red Bull’s performance gap to McLaren as “depressing” and estimating it at seven-tenths to a second per lap in Miami.
McLaren, for their part, has handled the situation with a mix of defiance and humor. CEO Zak Brown famously drank from a bottle labeled “Tire Water” during the Miami Grand Prix, a cheeky jab at Red Bull’s accusations. Brown has since called for stricter measures against frivolous protests, suggesting that teams should be required to make a financial deposit to deter baseless claims. “Teams have historically made allegations to unsettle others,” Brown told RacingNews365. “If Red Bull has evidence, they should file a formal protest and put their money where their mouth is.” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella echoed this sentiment, urging Red Bull to either present concrete evidence or drop the matter.
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The broader F1 community has also weighed in. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff dismissed Red Bull’s claims, praising McLaren’s “legit” development and urging rivals to focus on improving their own cars. George Russell, Mercedes’ driver, echoed this, stating, “Credit where credit’s due—McLaren are just doing a better job.” Even the FIA has responded to the controversy, with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem supporting Brown’s proposal for financial deterrents to prevent unnecessary protests. This stance has further isolated Red Bull, whose persistence in questioning McLaren’s legality has drawn criticism for being unsportsmanlike.
As the 2025 season progresses, Red Bull is under pressure to close the gap to McLaren, who have won five of the first six races and lead both championships. The team is reportedly working on a McLaren-inspired brake design to improve tyre temperature control, with upgrades planned for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. However, with the FIA’s verdict reinforcing McLaren’s position, Red Bull faces an uphill battle to regain their former dominance. The rivalry between these two teams is shaping up to be one of the defining stories of the season, with technical innovation and paddock politics taking center stage.
This controversy underscores the high stakes in Formula 1, where every advantage is scrutinized, and rivalries extend beyond the track. As McLaren continues to set the pace, Red Bull’s reaction to the verdict reveals their determination to fight back—both on the circuit and in the technical arena. For now, McLaren stands vindicated, but the battle for supremacy is far from over.
