The world of Formula 1 was shaken in early May 2025 by a controversial decision of the FIA during the Miami Grand Prix. After months of speculations and suspicions by rival Red Bull Racing, McLaren was officially sanctioned for manipulating the tire temperature. The penalty was granted following the additional tests provided by Red Bull, which ended an accessible out of track battle. The world champion Max Verstappen, who played a crucial role in the championship, did not let his reaction to the accident unnoticed.
The saga began in 2024, when Red Bull accused McLaren of using illegal methods to control the tire temperature. McL39 of the McLaren has proven exceptionally skilled in managing the wear of the tires, in particular on circuits such as Bahrein and Jeddah, where high temperatures put the rear tires to the test. Red Bull’s thermal images showed considerably cold areas around the McLaren brake drums, raising doubts about the legality of their cooling systems. Red Bull suspected the use of prohibited substances or innovations that are not compliant with regulations. McLaren defended itself by supporting the aerodynamic superiority and the advanced choice of materials, but the exact functioning of their system has remained a mystery.
In the period before Miami, the situation will degenerate. The Red Bull has provided new tests, including a detailed analysis of the thermal images and data of pit stops, which suggest that the McLaren brake drums used non -approved refrigerants to artificially keep the temperatures of the tires low. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the Red Bull would have highlighted “impossible” temperature differences that could not be explained only with the conduction of the air. The FIA, under the pressure of Red Bull and other teams, has started an in -depth investigation. Following the checks carried out during the free practice of Miami, the FIA confirmed that the McLaren system violates the regulation, in particular article 12.8.1 of the technical regulation, which prohibits artificially influencing the performance of the tires.
The sanction for McLaren was heavy: a fine of 200,000 euros and the reduction of 10 manufacturers. In addition, the team was forced to modify the brake drums for the following race in Imola. The McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, expressed disappointment but accepted the sentence. “We believe that our innovations comply with the regulations, but we respect the decision of the FIA,” he said in a note. Brown stressed that McLaren’s domain is not only due to the cooling system, but also to the superiority of the car and the pilots.
Max Verstappen, who scored the fourth faster time in Sprint qualifications in Miami, was surprisingly rapid in his response. “It is positive that the FIA is finally taking measures,” he said after the race. “We had known for some time that something was wrong. This type of tricks is not suitable for sport. Now we can compete again in a loyal way.” Verstappen, who is 12 points from the leader of the Oscar Plastri championship, stressed that he was focused on his performance. “McLaren is fast, penalty or not. I have to give everything to beat them.” His words reflected the frustration of Red Bull, who saw the management of tires by McLaren as an unfair advantage.
The head of the Red Bull team, Christian Horner, praised the FIA for his in -depth investigation. “This shows that nobody is above the rules,” he said. However, he also underlined the need for consistent penalties, citing previous episodes in which Verstappen were imposed of time penalties, such as in Saudi Arabia after a collision with plateters. X fans supported Verstappen with messages like “finally justice!” And photographs that show how McLaren cars maintained unusually low temperatures of the tires.
The penalty does not affect McLaren’s leadership in the manufacturers’ leadership, but puts pressure on the balance of power. The McLaren Lando Norris pilot, author of a good race in Miami, defined the “closed” issue and focused on the next races. “We will continue to fight for the title, with or without points,” he said. In the meantime, Red Bull hopes to make improvements to Imola to fill the gap with McLaren.
Formula 1 remains a battlefield, both on the track and outside. The FIA ruling shows that technological innovations are under the magnifying glass and the determination of Verstappen shows that it will not give up. The Miami Grand Prix has scored a turning point, but the championship race is far from concluded.
