FIA forced to ‘triple-check’ McLaren’s car after ‘excessive’ complaints from F1 rivals over game-changing innovation

All eyes were on Andrea Stella’s team after the winter break to see if McLaren were still going to be the team to beat after winning their first title since 2008.

The constructors’ championship was wrapped up by McLaren on the final day of last season after Lando Norris won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He and Oscar Piastri were constantly improving throughout the season, and while neither of them could catch Max Verstappen in the driver’s standings, they knew they had a strong chance of being the team to beat in 2025.

McLaren made some bold design choices over the winter break and weren’t shy about showing them off in pre-season, establishing themselves as the leaders in the paddock going into the opening round in Australia.

Aside from Red Bull tasting victory through Max Verstappen in Japan and Lewis Hamilton’s brilliant Sprint Race win in China, McLaren have stood on the top step of the podium at every race in 2025.

However, Red Bull are suspicious of McLaren’s car, but the FIA don’t currently have any issues with the MCL39.

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

FIA have ‘triple-checked’ McLaren’s brake linings after ‘excessive’ Red Bull complaints

A report from the German outlet Auto Motor und Sport has shared more details about the suspicions surrounding McLaren’s 2025 F1 car.

McLaren appear to have an advantage over the rest of the grid because they’re able to manage their tyre temperatures and brakes better than any other team.

Red Bull have been ‘bombarding the FIA’ with questions about what they can and can’t do, as well as using thermal imaging cameras to try and suss out McLaren’s system.

McLaren are able to keep their brakes cool, while also keeping the tyres at the correct temperature, something that every other driver on the grid dreams of.

Christian Horner’s team are said to be ‘convinced’ that McLaren can’t achieve this with just air alone, however, the FIA now considers the complaints from rival teams in the paddock ‘excessive’.

That’s because they have ‘double and triple-checked’ the areas in question on the McLaren and found nothing against the regulations.

McLaren are well aware that they have an advantage over the rest of the grid judging by their behaviour in the pit lane.

Their mechanics form a wall around the car whenever their brakes might be pictured by photographers working for rival teams.

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McLaren have incredibly difficult call to make when switching to F1’s 2026 regulations

CEO Zak Brown will be delighted with how this season has started, and unless the front-wing rule changes at the Spanish Grand Prix somehow derail their campaign, McLaren should retain the constructors’ championship.

If they are pegged back, then Piastri and Norris may not have a big enough advantage over Verstappen to be confident that they’ll win the drivers’ title, although the Australian is beginning to establish an impressive lead.

However, every team is well aware that they need to start focusing on next year’s car sooner rather than later.

The 2026 regulations are forcing all 10 teams, alongside Cadillac, to build completely new cars with very different requirements.

McLaren will have access to Mercedes’ power units but aside from that, they’re all on their own, but have shown this season they can be innovative enough to beat the factory teams.

They need to decide when to crossover to next year’s car and abandon improvements on the MCL29 without inviting pressure from the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes or even Ferrari.