Is Red Bull hiding something? McLaren’s FIA complaints fuel growing paddock suspicions

In a dramatic shift of power within Formula 1, McLaren have not only dethroned Red Bull as Constructors’ Champions in 2024 but also seem to be pulling away with an even stronger grip in 2025. As the Woking-based team builds a formidable lead in the standings, Red Bull are beginning to show signs of unease—not just about their own car's shortcomings, but more so about how McLaren have achieved such a leap.After dominating F1 for years, the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull team finds itself trailing McLaren by a staggering 141 points after just six races in the season.The rapid rise of the MCL39 has raised eyebrows across the paddock, but none more sharply than Red Bull’s. Questions are being raised not just internally but directed toward the FIA, as Red Bull begins to suspect that McLaren’s performance might not be entirely within the legal bounds of the sport.The suspicions began intensifying after McLaren were forced to alter their rear wing following observations made in Baku, where Red Bull noted excessive flexing. Things escalated further in Sao Paulo when Red Bull accused McLaren of using water as an illegal means to cool their tyres and boost performance. McLaren have denied the allegations at every step, even choosing to respond with a touch of humor—Zak Brown, the team’s CEO, showed up at the Miami Grand Prix sipping from a bottle labeled “Tyre Water.”Still, Red Bull remain relentless. Using thermal imaging, they observed McLaren’s rear brake ducts running at unusually low temperatures compared to the rest of the grid. Team principal Christian Horner voiced his skepticism openly, claiming, “It’s impossible” for McLaren’s tyres to cool through air alone and urging the FIA to dig deeper.Despite their public campaign, Red Bull’s ongoing grievances may be distracting them from more urgent internal concerns. Motorsport journalist Edd Straw summed it up succinctly: “There are suspicions that this is a team that is more eager to reach for external reasons for its struggles rather than fully embrace the need to troubleshoot its own problems.”Indeed, the RB21 is no longer the weapon it once was. Max Verstappen, the face of Red Bull’s dominance in recent seasons, ran a new floor upgrade in Miami. But after starting from pole, he was overtaken by both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris and ended up finishing fourth—almost 40 seconds behind the race leader. It’s a result that not only shocked fans but further exposed the gaps in Red Bull’s current performance levels.Verstappen’s frustration has become increasingly evident. He's been vocal about the car's limitations, especially in terms of tyre degradation and handling inconsistencies, and is demanding critical upgrades. Meanwhile, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have raised flags about the team’s wind tunnel data, which isn’t matching real-world outcomes—a worrying sign for a team accustomed to near-flawless execution.There is some hope within the Red Bull camp that the upcoming front-wing flexibility directive, set to take effect at the Spanish Grand Prix, may force McLaren to scale back some of their perceived aerodynamic advantages. If McLaren are gaining ground through excessive flexing, the directive could level the playing field.But if the FIA finds no breach of regulations, Red Bull must face an inconvenient truth: McLaren may have simply out-engineered them. And unless immediate and effective changes are made to the RB21, Red Bull risk not just losing their crown—but losing touch with the front of the grid entirely.Also Read: How one skill transformed Oscar Piastri into a genuine F1 title contender, says McLaren boss Andrea Stella