Tensions continue to rise in Formula One as McLaren CEO Zak Brown escalates his calls for Red Bull Racing to face consequences. The controversy revolves around an alleged feature on Red Bull’s RB20 car that allegedly breaches the sport’s strict regulations.

While Red Bull narrowly avoided any formal sanction at the Austin Grand Prix, Brown is adamant that further investigation is necessary and if wrongdoing is confirmed, severe penalties should follow.

 

 

 

The controversy: Red Bull’s alleged technical breach

At the heart of the dispute is the allegation that Red Bull’s RB20 car has a feature that allows the height of the “bib”, the front part of the car’s floor, to be adjusted. The concern centres on whether this adjustment is made between qualifying and the race itself, a period when strict parc fermé rules apply.

Under these rules, teams are not allowed to make any significant changes to the car after qualifying, as this would give them an unfair advantage during the race.

The FIA, Formula One’s governing body, ordered Red Bull to change the part in question, but no further sanctions were imposed. The lack of a penalty has left many teams, including McLaren, unhappy. For Zak Brown, the issue is far from settled. He believes Red Bull may have broken the rules and that such actions should not go unpunished.

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Zak Brown’s view: “There have to be consequences”

Brown, who has been vocal about the need for compliance in the sport, voiced his concerns after the Austin Grand Prix.

“There has to be a deterrent,” he said, calling for severe consequences if Red Bull did indeed break the rules.

In the world of Formula One, past transgressions have led to disqualifications, both from individual races and even entire championships. Brown insists that while he is not calling for Max Verstappen to be disqualified, if it is proven that Red Bull have breached the parc fermé rules, there should be an appropriate punishment.

“The rules are in place for a reason,” Brown added. “We have seen teams and drivers disqualified for infractions before and that precedent should be upheld. Whether it’s a one-off or something that’s been going on for years, there have to be consequences.”

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Affidavit Call: Demanding accountability from Red Bull

Brown has gone a step further, suggesting that Red Bull’s team management and mechanics should provide affidavits confirming that they never used the controversial feature.

“I would like to see the Red Bull team management, the former chief mechanics and the current mechanics sign an affidavit saying they never used the controversial part,” Brown told *The Daily Mail*.

The American executive’s request for a formal affidavit is a clear indication that he believes there may be more to the story than meets the eye.

“There’s a suggestion in the paddock that they did [use the feature],” Brown explained. “The only way to rule that out is with a good old-fashioned affidavit.”

The affidavit, according to Brown, would force Red Bull to make a definitive statement as to whether or not the feature was used. If the team refuses to provide such documentation, it could fuel suspicions that they have something to hide and increase pressure for a more thorough investigation.

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Christian Horner’s response: Brown’s “paranoia”

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has not been silent in the face of these allegations. In response to Brown’s comments, Horner suggested that the McLaren boss’ behaviour was driven by “paranoia”.

Red Bull have consistently denied that they have broken any regulations, claiming that they have acted in accordance with the FIA’s instructions and that any adjustments made to the car have been in accordance with the rules.

Horner has continued to defend his team, insisting that the FIA thoroughly inspected the car and ordered adjustments where necessary, but ultimately found no grounds for a penalty. He believes the matter has been blown out of proportion and has been dealt with appropriately by the governing body.

Nevertheless, Brown is not backing down. McLaren, currently one of Red Bull’s fiercest rivals in the Constructors’ Championship, see the issue as one of integrity and fairness. For Brown, it is not just about the single race in Austin, but about ensuring that all teams are held to the same standard.

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The historical precedent: Disqualifications in F1

Brown’s call for “consequences” harkens back to several notable incidents in F1 where teams have been penalised for breaching technical regulations. In 2007, McLaren itself was fined $100 million and disqualified from the Constructors’ Championship following the infamous ‘Spygate’ scandal, in which the team was found guilty of possessing confidential Ferrari documents.

Similarly, in 1999, Ferrari faced disqualification from the Malaysian Grand Prix for an irregularity with their barge boards, although the decision was later overturned on appeal. These examples show that the sport has a history of taking decisive action when rules are broken, and Brown believes Red Bull should be subject to the same scrutiny.

The question now is whether the FIA will reopen its investigation into Red Bull or let the matter rest. For Brown, the integrity of the sport is at stake and he is prepared to continue pushing for a resolution that upholds the standards of fairness and competition.

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What’s next for Red Bull and McLaren?

As the F1 season progresses, the tension between Red Bull and McLaren is likely to intensify. While the two teams battle it out on the track, with Red Bull continuing to dominate the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, the off-track drama is far from over. Brown’s insistence on further investigation and possible sanctions could keep the controversy alive, especially if new evidence emerges or the FIA takes another look at the case.

Should the FIA decide to re-examine the situation and find that Red Bull did indeed break the rules, the potential consequences could be significant.

Although Brown has stated that he does not want to see Verstappen disqualified, a penalty affecting the constructors’ championship or future races is not out of the question. This could have a major impact on the championship battle and the reputations of both Red Bull and McLaren.

Zak Brown’s call for consequences has added another layer of complexity to an already heated F1 season. While Red Bull maintain their innocence, McLaren’s CEO is determined to ensure that any breach of the rules is met with appropriate penalties. With precedents of disqualifications and heavy fines throughout the sport’s history, Brown’s demands are far from unprecedented.

As F1 moves forward, the FIA will be under pressure to ensure that all teams play by the rules. Whether or not this leads to further action against Red Bull remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull, both on and off the track, shows no signs of abating.

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READ MORE F1 NEWS – Norris penalty halved

Lando Norris and McLaren came into the USGP with huge momentum having outscored Red Bull by 129 points since the British Grand Prix. The MCL38 had evolved from just excelling at circuits with predominantly high speed corners to a genuine all rounder as demonstrated by Oscar Piastri at the stop start track in Hungary.

The constructors’ championship appeared already lost to Red Bull with McLaren now some 41 points ahead of the world champions coming into the race weekend in Austin, Texas.

As if to make matters worse, McLaren’s CEO came out all guns blazing in the southern US state, accusing Red Bull of deploying a secret ride height adjuster which could escape the attention of the FIA when the cars were in parc ferme…READ MORE ON THIS STORY