The world of formula 1 is shaken with a new controversy. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, has accused Red Bull of copying an innovative braking system of the MCL39, the car that has dominated the 2025 season. According to Brown, this secret “trick” in the rear brakes, which allows to maintain the temperatures of the tires under control, is the key to the success of McLaren on the track. The accusation, confirmed after the Miami Grand Prix, has led FIA to officially intervene, intensifying the rivalry between both teams.
The MCL39 braking system, designed with phase change materials, allows McLare to manage the heat of the brakes more efficiently, preventing the tires from overheating during the races. This ingenious design, which has been analyzed by experts such as Martin Buchan, has given McLaren a significant advantage, especially in circuits with high temperatures such as Miami, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri achieved an overwhelming victory. However, Red Bull, led by Christian Horner, has been observing closely. Recent reports indicate that the Austrian equipment used thermal cameras to study the temperatures of the MCL39 brake ducts, suspecting that McLaren used innovative technology.
Brown has not hesitated to raise his voice. In a statement full of irony, McLaren’s CEO challenged Red Bull to present a formal protest before the FIA if they are so sure that the MCL39 violates the rules. “If you think we are doing something illegal, to prove it,” said Brown, while holding a bottle of water with the label “Water for tires” during practices in Miami, in a sarcastic wink to the previous accusations of Red Bull on the use of liquids in the tires. The FIA, after thoroughly examining the design of the rear brakes of the MCL39, confirmed its legality, but the controversy has only fueled the tension in the paddock.
This is not the first time that Brown and Horner collide. The rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull has grown in 2025, with McLaren leading the Constructors Championship and their pilots, Norris and Piestri, dominating the classification. Red Bull, meanwhile, has faced difficulties to match McLaren’s rhythm, which has led to speculation about possible copies of technology. The intervention of the FIA, which confiscated parts of the MCL39 for a deeper analysis, suggests that the technical battle between both teams is far from finishing.
With the Spanish Grand Prix, where new technical directives could change the rules of the game, the eyes are set in McLaren and Red Bull. Can Red Bull replicate the success of McLaren, or will Brown continue marking the rhythm on and off the track? Formula 1 promises strong emotions.
