FIA Launches Probe into Red Bull’s Allegations Against McLaren

Red Bull has lodged a formal complaint, accusing McLaren of using water in tyres to gain a competitive edge.

The 2024 Formula 1 title race took another twist in Brazil tonight, with fresh complaints surfacing as Red Bull suspects McLaren of engaging in illegal practices to gain race pace.

Red Bull believes McLaren is adding a small amount of water to its tyres to aid cooling – and, according to Red Bull, McLaren may not be the only team employing this tactic.

The FIA has confirmed it has launched an investigation following these allegations and has initiated verification procedures.

Throughout the season, McLaren and Red Bull Racing have exchanged accusations of cheating or exploiting loopholes.

What began with Red Bull accusing McLaren of implementing an improper flexible rear wing flap in Baku escalated to McLaren alleging Red Bull was using an illegal component designed to adjust the ride height of its car’s underfloor.

The FIA instructed McLaren – and a few other teams – to cease using its flexible wing, and ultimately ruled Red Bull’s T-tray mechanism legal.

Red Bull now claims McLaren is again pushing the boundaries, this time by adding a small quantity of water to its tyres to assist with cooling.

McLaren is reportedly benefiting from this tyre modification via valves that help cool the tyres.

An initial report indicates that the FIA is already investigating these claims, while Pirelli has found no irregularities.

Tyre usage in Formula 1 is heavily regulated, and the report notes it would be very challenging for a team to add water to a tyre without Pirelli’s approval.

Pirelli technicians assemble and disassemble tyres for the teams, and teams are prohibited from handling tyres after mounting. Furthermore, Pirelli’s technicians and engineers are an omnipresent force in the paddock, making it difficult to inject water undetected.

After the race, Pirelli also retrieves all tyres for analysis. Should any liquid residue inside the tyres be detected, it will be reported.

Red Bull is familiar with this tactic, having experimented with it in the past before the FIA closed the loophole that could allow liquid to be added to tyres.