FIA have ‘triple chucked’ McLaren’s car after ‘excessive’ complaints from F1 rivals ahout one part
Racing CEO Zak Brown has welcomed Red Bull to protest the MCL39, though he wants it to come at a potential price.
Brown has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations that his team is using illegal tyre cooling tricks. The rumors, which have been circulating since last season, suggest that McLaren is injecting a small amount of water into their tyres for cooling, which would provide a performance benefit. However, governing body the FIA and tyre supplier Pirelli have found no evidence to support these claims.
Despite the lack of evidence, Red Bull is reportedly still suspicious of McLaren’s tyre management, which has been a key strength of the MCL39 challenger. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull has even gone so far as to use thermal imaging cameras to monitor the MCL39 during pit stops, focusing on the tyre cooling ducts. The cameras allegedly detected “many blue areas around the brake vents on the McLaren tyres,” which is an anomaly compared to rival cars.
Brown has now challenged Red Bull to put their money where their mouth is if they are convinced that McLaren is cheating. He proposed that a team should have to pay a significant fee if they lodge a complaint with the FIA, suggesting that this would prevent frivolous protests.
“It needs to be meaningful,” Brown is quoted as saying by The Telegraph. “In terms of ‘I’m choosing to spend money on [a protest] rather than my own racing car.'” Brown’s comments are a clear reference to the budget cap, which limits the amount of money teams can spend on their cars. By suggesting that teams should have to pay a fee to lodge a complaint, Brown is implying that Red Bull is wasting its resources on unfounded allegations rather than focusing on improving its own car.
Brown’s comments are also laced with a sense of humor, as he referenced the controversy during the Miami Grand Prix. The American was seen drinking from a bottle labeled “tire water” during FP1, a clear tongue-in-cheek reference to the allegations.
While the controversy continues to simmer, McLaren remains focused on its championship ambitions. The team currently sits atop both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri enjoying a strong start to the season. Red Bull, on the other hand, will need to regroup and refocus if it hopes to mount a serious challenge to McLaren’s dominance.
