FIA respond to McLaren proposal after Red Bull p…..read more
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has voiced his support for McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s recent call to implement a financial deterrent against frivolous Formula 1 team protests. This comes after Red Bull allegedly questioned the legality of McLaren’s tyre cooling methods, an accusation that Brown staunchly rejected and which has not been substantiated with evidence.
At the heart of the issue is a claim, reported towards the end of the previous F1 season by German media, that McLaren might have been injecting water into their tyres to manage temperatures — a tactic Red Bull reportedly viewed as potentially illegal. McLaren denied the allegation, and no formal complaint or proof has since been presented. Still, the incident sparked broader discussions about the way in which teams use protests to potentially unsettle rivals without solid grounds.
Zak Brown responded publicly to the accusation in a tongue-in-cheek manner. During the Miami Grand Prix weekend, he was seen drinking from a water bottle labeled “tire water,” clearly mocking the notion that his team would engage in such a practice. While humorous, Brown used the moment to highlight a more serious concern: that teams should not be allowed to lodge protests without consequences, especially if those protests are made on mere suspicion.
In interviews, Brown elaborated on his position, arguing that the sport has seen a pattern of teams — with one in particular, though unnamed — regularly making claims against competitors. According to Brown, these accusations can be distracting and harmful, even when they lack evidence or never lead to formal investigations. He believes a financial deposit accompanying a protest could help filter out baseless or strategic complaints. The idea is that only teams confident in their evidence would be willing to put money on the line, which would discourage protests made purely to disrupt opponents.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem appears to agree with Brown’s suggestion. He acknowledged the issue and expressed support for implementing a system where teams must submit a deposit when making an official protest. This would be designed to preserve the integrity of competition and reduce the number of meritless challenges.
Overall, both Brown and Ben Sulayem are advocating for a more disciplined and fair approach to handling protests in Formula 1. They believe that a formalized financial barrier would help maintain focus on racing rather than off-track political maneuvering. While no specific rules have been changed yet, the endorsement from the FIA president could signal potential adjustments to how the sport manages team disputes going forward.
