Last Updated on February 8 2025, 8:48 am
Red Bull Racing has become increasingly concerned within the team about McLaren’s performance over the course of the season. The dominant advantage enjoyed by Max Verstappen in the early rounds of the championship has quickly evaporated as both McLaren and Ferrari have closed the gap.
There is a belief within the Red Bull camp that the FIA may have turned a blind eye to certain technical innovations introduced by McLaren, innovations that may have been in breach of the regulations. This perceived favouritism has fuelled speculation that McLaren’s sudden power surge was not entirely within the spirit of the rules.
Red Bull’s early dominance fades
At the start of the season, Verstappen and Red Bull looked untouchable. The Dutchman secured commanding victories, demonstrating the superior pace of the RB20. His winning margin in the early races was staggering:
– Bahrain Grand Prix: 25.1 seconds ahead
– Saudi Grand Prix: 18.6 seconds ahead
– Japanese Grand Prix: 20.9s ahead
– Chinese Grand Prix: 13.8 seconds ahead
By mid-season, however, Red Bull’s dominance had disappeared. Verstappen went ten races without a win, a shocking turn of events given the team’s early season supremacy.
The turning point: British Grand Prix and beyond
Red Bull’s struggles began in earnest after the British Grand Prix. At the time, Verstappen held a comfortable 84-point lead over Lando Norris in the championship standings, but that gap has steadily eroded:
– Hungarian Grand Prix: Down to 76 points
– Singapore Grand Prix: Down to 52 points
– Mexican Grand Prix: lead down to 47 points
This downward trend alarmed Red Bull, who struggled to understand how McLaren had managed to close such a gap in such a short time. It raised an important question: How could a team that started the season so far behind suddenly become a serious contender for race wins?
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Red Bull’s accusations: McLaren’s technical innovations
Sources within Red Bull claim that McLaren’s improvements have not been the result of natural evolution, but rather the exploitation of regulatory loopholes. Rumours circulated that two key innovations contributed to McLaren’s new-found pace, both of which Red Bull attempted to challenge with the FIA.
1. The front wing controversy
Red Bull claimed that McLaren were using an illegal front wing with a flexing mechanism that gave them additional aerodynamic benefits. Flexible aerodynamic components have been a contentious issue in F1 for years, with teams often pushing the boundaries of what is legally allowed under the regulations.
2. The ‘Mini-DRS’ rear wing
Another point of contention was McLaren’s rear wing design. Red Bull claimed it incorporated an illegal form of Drag Reduction System (DRS) that gave McLaren an unfair straight-line speed advantage. The FIA has strict rules on the use of DRS and any additional aerodynamic benefits outside of these regulations could have given McLaren a significant advantage.
3. The cooling mechanism allegations
Later in the season, Red Bull also raised concerns about McLaren’s tyre cooling strategy. According to Red Bull, McLaren was allegedly injecting water into the tyres to artificially lower their temperature, thereby extending tyre life and improving overall performance. If true, this would have been a serious breach of the regulations governing tyre use.
Despite Red Bull’s repeated calls for the FIA to investigate, none of these allegations were ever officially proven. However, Red Bull continued to press for clarity from the governing body, convinced that McLaren had found a way around certain restrictions.
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Frustration boils over in Red Bull camp
As Red Bull’s advantage dwindled, tensions within the team escalated. That frustration was on full display during the Hungarian Grand Prix when Verstappen and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase had a heated exchange over the team radio. It was a rare moment of public tension between the driver and his long-time engineer and highlighted Verstappen’s growing concerns.
During the race, Verstappen voiced his frustration: “We have to do something because we are losing ground.”
This concern continued into the Belgian Grand Prix, where Verstappen opted for a more strategic approach to limit further damage. However, his struggles continued, culminating in a controversial moment in Mexico when he received a 20-second time penalty following incidents with Norris. This penalty led to speculation as to whether Verstappen had lost his cool or was deliberately trying to disrupt Norris’ race.
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The FIA’s intervention: A turning point?
Towards the end of the season, Red Bull’s performance seemed to improve. Verstappen won the sprint race in the United States and secured victory in Qatar, leading to theories within Red Bull that the FIA had finally stepped in and put an end to McLaren’s “questionable” developments.
From Red Bull’s perspective, the sudden drop in McLaren’s performance was seen as “proof” that certain advantages had been removed. However, this did not fully explain why Red Bull had gone from absolute dominance to playing catch-up.
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Adrian Newey’s admission: Red Bull’s own limitations
Amidst the conspiracy theories, Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey admitted that the team had hit a ceiling with their current car concept. Unlike previous seasons, where Red Bull had been able to make steady progress through in-season development, they had reached a point where major improvements were no longer easily achievable.
This revelation raised further questions within Red Bull’s own camp as to whether their struggles were more self-inflicted than first thought. Were they too preoccupied with McLaren and the FIA rather than focusing on improving their own performance?
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What does this mean for Verstappen’s future?
With Red Bull openly questioning the FIA’s role in McLaren’s resurgence, there are growing concerns over Verstappen’s long-term future with the team. If Red Bull believe that the FIA’s decisions could significantly affect their ability to compete, it could create uncertainty over Verstappen’s championship prospects.
There has also been ongoing speculation about Verstappen’s desire to drive for Ferrari at some point in his career. With Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc, such a move wouldn’t be possible until at least 2027. However, if Red Bull cannot regain their dominant form, Verstappen may be tempted to explore other options.
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Red Bull’s way forward
As the team reflects on the season, there are two possible outcomes:
1.If McLaren did exploit regulatory loopholes, then Red Bull must push for stricter FIA oversight to prevent further manipulation.
2.If Red Bull’s problems were internal, then the team needs to refocus its resources on car development rather than political battles.
The 2025 season will be a crucial test for Red Bull. With the likes of McLaren and Ferrari closing in, Red Bull’s era of dominance could be seriously threatened. Whether they can regain their edge remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – Formula 1 is becoming more competitive than ever.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
