Verstappen Claims Rivals Used Illegal Tactics in F1 Battle

Max Verstappen alleges rivals used underhanded tactics during the season, hinting at hidden actions that hindered Red Bull’s performance.

Max Verstappen suspects McLaren F1 of breaking the rules during the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Verstappen’s fourth title proved far harder to secure than his third, as his RB20 struggled with balance issues in the second half of the season, while teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes continued to win.

A series of technical controversies clouded the season.

First, Red Bull and Ferrari questioned the flexible front wings of McLaren and Mercedes before the papaya team sparked controversy over its “mini-DRS” flexible rear wing.

Red Bull also criticized unnamed teams for allegedly injecting water into tires as an illegal cooling method.

The FIA investigated all allegations and found no team guilty of wrongdoing, though McLaren was forced to change its rear wing.

Verstappen, however, remains skeptical, telling De Telegraaf: “There have been things happening in the background, which meant we had no chance in certain races.”

“I know this for sure, but no one will ever admit it!”

Strong words, but notably lacking in specifics. Andrea Stella, McLaren F1’s team principal, recently addressed these suspicions, bordering on accusations.

“Sometimes we’ve seen that, especially with these stories about water in tires, you have to deal with misinformation.”

“These are things you know are completely absurd. But they still become news, and you can’t ignore them. You have to manage them somehow. It was a new dimension for a team like ours that hadn’t fought for victory in a long time.”

“This ultimately required a lot of attention, and it was never enough. It was easy to say, ‘that’s enough; it’ll be an easy win,’ but that’s not how Formula 1 works. You have to constantly reposition yourself, and that’s hard to accept in a way.”