Toto wolff Unconvinced by Red Bull’s Accusations Against… read more
As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, McLaren has emerged as a dominant force, raising eyebrows throughout the paddock with its impressive performance. Their MCL39 car has stunned competitors with its speed and consistency, prompting some rival teams to question the legality of the car’s design and technology. Red Bull Racing has taken those suspicions further, officially petitioning the FIA to investigate the McLaren team for potential rule violations.
The most recent allegations target McLaren’s tire cooling system. According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull Racing used thermal imaging to analyze McLaren’s tire temperatures during races. The results showed that the tires remained unusually cool, leading to speculation that McLaren might be using water as a cooling agent—something not only unconventional but potentially illegal. However, experts have quickly pointed out that introducing moisture into F1 tires is extremely unlikely due to the risks it poses to performance and safety.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, however, has firmly dismissed these allegations. Speaking to Motorsport-Total, Wolff made it clear he does not believe McLaren has broken any rules. While he admitted that even Mercedes hasn’t yet figured out the exact reasons behind McLaren’s recent performance surge, he emphasized that excellence in tire management appears to be the key.
“They’ve simply understood better than anyone how to manage the tires,” Wolff stated. “And from what I can see, that’s completely within the rules.”
Wolff also stressed that McLaren operates with a high level of integrity. “They are good people who play fair,” he said. “I don’t doubt that they’re doing things by the book.”
Echoing sentiments shared by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, Wolff criticized the tendency of some teams to cry foul when a rival makes significant progress. He warned against a culture of suspicion and encouraged teams to look inward rather than point fingers.
“If another team is doing a better job, the right response isn’t to accuse them of cheating,” Wolff explained. “That’s the wrong attitude. Instead, we need to focus on improving ourselves.”
He acknowledged that Mercedes has some catching up to do. “We need to understand where we are falling short. After 55 laps, we shouldn’t be finishing 30 or 35 seconds behind.”
Despite the current gap, Wolff remains optimistic about Mercedes’ ability to bounce back. He revealed that the team is actively working on identifying key performance areas, running experiments, and adjusting strategies to close the gap.
“We’re not frozen with fear,” Wolff added. “We’re working hard, analyzing everything, and we believe we’ll be able to compete at the front again soon.”
In summary, while Red Bull continues to push for an FIA investigation into McLaren’s rapid rise, key figures like Toto Wolff are standing firm in their belief that the MCL39’s performance is the result of legitimate, hard-earned engineering excellence—not foul play.
