Lando Norris Slams Red Bull’s “Nonsense” Accusations Over M…read more
McLaren’s Lando Norris has come out strongly against recent accusations aimed at his team regarding alleged rule-bending tactics, branding the claims as “nonsense.” The British driver responded to whispers in the Formula 1 paddock that suggested McLaren, among other teams, might be exploiting a loophole by introducing water into their tires to keep them cooler and extend tire life during races—a tactic that would breach FIA regulations if proven true. However, the FIA launched a thorough investigation following the Miami Grand Prix, selecting cars including that of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had just clinched his maiden Formula 1 victory. After extensive technical inspections of McLaren’s car, particularly focusing on the wheel bodywork and compliance with tire-related regulations, the governing body found no evidence of any wrongdoing, effectively clearing the Woking-based outfit.
Appearing on the latest episode of F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Norris didn’t hold back in ridiculing the rumors. “You learn that in pre-school,” he joked, clearly exasperated by what he viewed as unfounded and baseless speculation. “It’s been very amusing seeing what people can come up with and just create out of nonsense.” For Norris, the entire episode seems to reflect the pressure and scrutiny that comes with performing at the highest level in the sport. He acknowledged that McLaren, having established itself as a front-runner this season, has naturally become a target of increased suspicion from rival teams and more stringent oversight from the FIA. “We’re under more scrutiny, there’s more checks, there’s been more rules, there’s been more implements of things to try slow us down and make things more difficult. But that’s just life at the top,” he stated.
Norris subtly pointed fingers at Red Bull as one of the main sources of these allegations, suggesting that such rumors were a deliberate tactic in the ongoing power struggle between the sport’s top teams. McLaren’s rapid rise and consistent performances in 2025 have seen them challenge Red Bull’s long-held dominance, with both Norris and Piastri frequently on the podium. As the season has progressed, McLaren’s leap in competitiveness has become impossible to ignore, and according to Norris, some rivals have turned to politics and psychological warfare instead of solving their issues on the track. “When you get to the top, you have more people trying to drag you down, especially when it’s team against team,” he explained. “That’s a big part of it for them—trying to see how you can get at each other.”
The McLaren star went on to say that in Formula 1, teams will often look for any potential chink in their opponent’s armor. While this might include creative setups or interpretations of the regulations, it can also involve spreading rumors or pushing the FIA to investigate areas of performance that appear unusual. “In some ways, it’s any means necessary for a team to try and get back to being on top,” Norris added. “And sometimes, it’s individuals coming out with somehow bizarre theories of water in tires, or in the brake ducts, which means you’re doing a good job if people are having to come up with such nonsense.”
McLaren, meanwhile, has remained calm and composed amid the noise, letting their performance do the talking. With wins, podiums, and a rising tally in the constructors’ championship, the team has proven itself not only competitive but also resilient in the face of political gamesmanship off-track. For Norris, these distractions are part of the game—but he’s not about to let them shake his focus. The message from the 25-year-old is clear: when rivals are busy pointing fingers instead of fixing their own issues, it’s usually a sign that McLaren is doing something right.
