Red Bull ‘bombarding FIA’ about McLaren as big accusation fired | F1 | Sport
Red Bull have reportedly been ‘bombarding’ the FIA as the McLaren tyre saga begins to heat up. The British constructor had been accused of illegally using liquid to cool their tyres.
It comes after a dominant start to the Formula One season for McLaren, who sit top of the Constructors’ Championship, with both drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, sitting pretty at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. While it’s looking like one of the two will be crowned champion of the world later this year, Red Bull are keen to ensure McLaren are doing it by the book.
According to the German outlet Auto Motor Sport, Red Bull, along with executives at its sister team Toro Rosso, have been bombarding the FIA with “inquiries about possible technical tricks” on the McLaren motor. Their complaints are focused on how McLaren are able to keep their tyres within a moderate temperature window, thus giving the likes of Piastri and Norris an advantage on the long runs.
Despite the accusations, McLaren were cleared of using a water trick to cool their tyres following the Miami Grand Prix earlier this year. Ahead of last weekend’s race in Italy, the FIA released a technical delegate’s report on Piastri’s car, which had been randomly selected for testing in Miami.
It read: “After the race in Miami car number 81 was randomly chosen among the top ten cars for more extensive physical inspections. Subject to these physical inspections were the wheel bodywork assemblies. The following checks were carried out on all corners: The compliance of all components with TR Article 3.13. Physical checks for compliance with TR Article 11.5 on all four corners. All inspected components were found to be in conformance with the 2025 Formula One Technical Regulations.”
As far as the McLaren camp are concerned, it is business as usual. McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown arrived at the Emilia Romagna race with a bottle labelled ‘tyre water’ – a less-than-subtle dig at their rivals’ accusations. Whereas, championship leader Piastri insisted it was business as usual in the McLaren garage.
He explained: “I honestly haven’t read anything because I’ve not been concerned. Maybe next time we’ll put some little figurines in a water slide as well. We’ll come up with something. Clearly it’s all been passed. I had no concerns, so play on.”
There’s no rest for the wicked, though, as it’s over to the principality for the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. Charles Leclerc is the reigning winner, with the Ferrari man having triumphed on his home circuit for the first ever time in 2024.
