F1 paddock now has ‘suspicions’ about Red Bull after constant McLaren FIA complaints

McLaren dethroned Red Bull at the top of Formula 1 in 2024. As they establish an advantage over the grid in 2025, the Milton Keynes outfit are growing suspicious of their rivals.

McLaren quickly rose to constructors’ champions last year and look set to dominate the championship in 2025. Their progression has prompted Red Bull to question the legality of their car.

McLaren were forced to change their rear wing by the FIA after Red Bull found it was flexing too much in Baku. Furthermore, Red Bull accused McLaren of using water to cool the tyres in Sao Paulo and improve performance.

The Woking squad has continuously played down these allegations, with CEO Zak Brown taunting Red Bull at the Miami Grand Prix by drinking from a water bottle with ‘Tyre Water’ labelled on it.

But their Milton Keynes-based rivals are not giving up with complaints to the FIA about the MCL39. Red Bull noticed the temperatures on the rear brake ducts were significantly lower than the rest of the grid with thermal imaging cameras.

Christian Horner says it’s ‘impossible’ McLaren’s tyres cool through air alone as he pleads for the FIA to investigate the matter further. As Red Bull questions their rival’s car, suspicions are beginning to arise about them.

F1 paddock has ‘suspicions’ Red Bull are more focused on ‘external reasons’ rather than their own issues

Red Bull have ‘bombarded the FIA’ with complaints about McLaren’s car as they fall 141 points behind them in the standings after six races. The MCL39 is far superior to the RB21, but Red Bull are wondering whether the Woking outfit have achieved that illegally.

Amid the constant complaints to the FIA, journalist Edd Straw has noted that the F1 paddock has ‘suspicions’ about Red Bull’s own problems. They are starting to think they are more worried about others rather than focusing on the problems with their car.

“At its best, on tracks with certain characteristics, it is a strong machine that will allow Verstappen to challenge for wins if he and Red Bull execute perfectly and rivals, specifically McLaren, underachieve,” said Straw via The Race.

“But it’s still a long way from where it needs to be, especially given the car has had problems with tyre management at times.

“With Red Bull harbouring all manner of suspicions about how McLaren is achieving its level of performance, particularly when it comes to managing rear-tyre temperature, the team hopes that the front-wing flexibility technical directive that kicks in for the ninth race of the season in Spain next month will change the competitive order.

“However, 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.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Max Verstappen has constantly called for improvements to the RB21 in 2025

Red Bull hope the Spanish GP front-wing directive will change the pecking order in 2025. It is suspected that McLaren are gaining performance through excessive flexing; therefore, in theory, they will fall backwards.

But the Milton Keynes squad have issues of their own that they are not resolving. Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have raised concerns about the wind tunnel, as its simulations are not translating to performance on the track.

Max Verstappen ran a new floor in Miami, but was only good enough to finish fourth in the race after qualifying on pole. The Dutchman was overtaken by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris after a tense battle and finished almost 40 seconds behind.

Verstappen has been growing frustrated with the RB21’s issues and has constantly called for his team to bring upgrades to fix their woes. If the FIA find no wrongdoing from McLaren, Red Bull must act fast or risk falling further behind.