Last Updated on May 3 2025, 10:42 am
Red Bull raises eyebrows again over McLaren’s tyre dominance as thermal camera data fuels fresh suspicions – The Formula One paddock is once again engulfed in controversy, and at the centre of the storm are two of the sport’s fiercest rivals: Red Bull Racing and McLaren. As the 2025 season progresses, McLaren’s unexpected supremacy in tyre management has drawn renewed scrutiny from Red Bull, with reports suggesting the Austrian outfit suspect foul play.
According to Auto, Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt, Red Bull are using thermal imaging technology to understand how McLaren manage to keep their tyre temperatures so perfectly within the ideal operating window – an advantage that has proved crucial over several race weekends.
The underlying question remains: how does McLaren achieve such consistent grip and tyre stability across varying track conditions when the rest of the grid continues to struggle?
McLaren’s tyre management sparks fresh accusations
Red Bull’s growing frustration is rooted in McLaren’s rapid rise in performance and their dominance of tyre behaviour, an aspect of racing that is notoriously difficult to master.
Since the start of the 2025 season, McLaren drivers have won four of the first five Grands Prix, a statistic that underlines their current form and has set alarm bells ringing in Milton Keynes.
The root of Red Bull’s suspicion seems to lie in the way McLaren manage to get their tyres up to temperature quickly and keep them in the ideal range – often referred to as the ‘magic window’ – for far longer than any other team. This performance advantage manifests itself not only in qualifying but, more importantly, in race conditions where tyre degradation and heat management typically become critical.
“In sector one of the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen was still a tenth quicker,” explains Schmidt of AMuS. “But in sectors two and three, McLaren took over. Their grip just doesn’t go down.”
Red Bull and others are reportedly looking to copy elements of McLaren’s braking system from the upcoming Imola Grand Prix, in the hope that similar technology could improve the performance of their own tyres. But even with such imitation, Red Bull insiders remain convinced that there’s more to McLaren’s success than just brake cooling.
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A history of suspicion
This isn’t the first time McLaren have faced accusations from Red Bull regarding their tyre temperature control methods. During the 2024 season, Red Bull questioned the possibility of McLaren using water-filled tyres – a claim that was dismissed at the time by Pirelli, the sport’s sole tyre supplier, as not feasible under current technical regulations.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown brushed off the allegations with humour, going so far as to place a bottle labelled “Tire Water” on the pit wall as a tongue-in-cheek response to the rumours. After a brief investigation, the FIA found no infringement and allowed McLaren to continue without reprimand.
Red Bull, however, remain unconvinced and are determined to get to the bottom of McLaren’s performance advantage. The resurfacing of similar suspicions this year – sparked by data collected by thermal imaging cameras – suggests that the reigning Constructors’ Champions are not satisfied with previous explanations.
Thermal imaging reveals unusual cooling zones
Red Bull’s engineers have been using thermal imaging cameras during pit stops to analyse heat patterns in and around McLaren’s brake ducts, particularly those on the rear axle where the tyres typically heat up the most. The results, according to Schmidt, were startling.
“While most cars show a healthy dose of red and orange – indicating significant heat – McLaren’s brake drums often appear blue in thermal images,” writes Schmidt. “This suggests unusually effective cooling.”
For Red Bull, this is a big red flag. Air cooling alone, even if it’s optimally directed through the brake ducts, is unlikely to be able to maintain such low temperatures in race conditions, especially on hot tracks like Bahrain and Jeddah. This has led to the revival of theories involving liquid-based systems, even though such concepts were previously considered implausible or illegal.
Unsurprisingly, McLaren have denied any wrongdoing, insisting that their performance is the result of legitimate innovation, clever design and a well-balanced chassis.
Inside the brake ducts: The legal grey area
What complicates the situation is the fine line between innovation and illegality in Formula One. Brake duct design, while highly regulated, still leaves room for creative interpretations of the rules. It’s here that many believe McLaren may have found a unique advantage.
Schmidt suggests that McLaren’s breakthrough could come from advanced air ducting within the brake housings, the use of unconventional materials, or thermal solutions that are just within the bounds of legality. And while the car has passed scrutineering at every event so far, that hasn’t stopped rival teams – notably Red Bull and sister outfit VCARB – from inundating the FIA with technical questions.
“The FIA hasn’t found anything illegal,” says Schmidt. “But that hasn’t stopped the teams from trying to uncover the secret by process of elimination.”
If McLaren have indeed found a legal way to dramatically improve tyre heat control, it would explain why their car behaves so consistently over a wide range of tracks and conditions. While high downforce and good balance are contributing factors, they probably don’t tell the whole story.
Will the FIA step in?
For now, the FIA seems content to monitor the situation quietly. There is no indication that McLaren is under formal investigation and no formal protest has been lodged. However, Schmidt confirms that the governing body has increased its vigilance, particularly in relation to brake duct temperatures and airflow patterns.
If the allegations persist and the evidence mounts, it’s conceivable that the FIA could introduce a technical directive to clarify the legality of certain cooling methods. In the meantime, teams are left to speculate, reverse-engineer and experiment with their own systems in an attempt to catch up.
McLaren, for their part, continue to play down the controversy. They maintain that the MCL39’s performance is the result of long-term development and aerodynamic refinement rather than any particular gimmick. And with the results continuing to go their way, the Woking-based team have little incentive to change their approach.
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Rivalry intensifies as grid scrambles to adapt
With the 2025 season now firmly underway, the dynamic between Red Bull and McLaren is rapidly evolving. McLaren’s rise has not only disrupted Red Bull’s dominance, but has also thrown the competitive balance of the grid into flux. While Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin are still in the hunt, it’s McLaren that has become the benchmark – at least for now.
As the Imola weekend approaches, all eyes will be on Red Bull’s rumoured adaptation of McLaren’s brake set-up. Will it make a difference? Or will McLaren continue to control the race from the front, their tyres somehow always gripping perfectly?
Until then, the mystery remains. Whether it’s clever engineering or something more controversial, McLaren’s tyre mastery remains the talk of the paddock – and Red Bull’s biggest headache.
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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.
