The São Paulo paddock rarely lacks drama, and this weekend was no exception. Max Verstappen’s surprise early exit from qualifying, followed by his rise from the pit lane, lit up the Brazilian Grand Prix. However, instead of receiving applause for this thrilling comeback, Red Bull has found itself at the centre of an FIA inquiry instigated by an increasingly prickly McLaren.
Led by Andrea Stella, McLaren has filed an official complaint questioning Red Bull’s decision to install a new power unit in Verstappen’s car before the race. While most team principals would respond with some gentle corporate obfuscation, Laurent Mekies of Red Bull seems to have opted for an unusually candid approach – one that might just make the FIA’s job a little easier.
McLaren cries foul
Let’s rewind. Verstappen was eliminated in Q1 for the first time in the turbo-hybrid era due to his pace, and was set to start in sixteenth place. Red Bull then made significant changes to the RB21’s setup, forcing him to start from the pit lane. That in itself isn’t scandalous. However, McLaren were suspicious when Red Bull took the opportunity to install a new Honda power unit, and then watched Verstappen overtake the other cars with ease.
For McLaren, this seemed a little too convenient. Stella claims that the teams and the FIA have a gentleman’s agreement that such engine changes, if not justified by reliability issues, should be subject to the budget cap. After qualifying, Verstappen himself hinted that a new engine wasn’t guaranteed, suggesting that his first four power units were still in good condition. But Red Bull decided otherwise.
To Stella, this smacks of opportunism, the kind that makes accountants and rule-makers uneasy.
“We just want clarification,” he insists, his polite tone belied by his clear lack of desire for mere clarification. McLaren believes that Red Bull should declare the cost of the new power unit under the 2025 budget cap. The only problem? The agreement that Stella refers to hasn’t yet been formally added to the regulations. It’s a classic case of Formula 1’s favourite pastime: arguing over rules that don’t technically exist.
Mekies opens the door
When Mekies was questioned about the engine swap shortly before Stella’s formal complaint, the Frenchman gave a response that could be described as refreshingly or recklessly honest.
“It’s always good to run a new engine,” he said cheerfully. “We made the decision because Max was starting from the pit lane anyway. To be honest, we were on track to finish the season without needing a new engine.”
In other words, they didn’t need it. They just wanted it. In Formula 1 politics, that’s a dangerous thing to say. Mekies essentially confirmed that Red Bull treated the power unit change as a free performance upgrade rather than a necessity, a move that McLaren insists should have financial consequences.
Mekies went on to describe the decision as ‘a luxury choice after a painful Saturday’, noting that ‘every little thing matters’ at this level. Verstappen’s early elimination was painful, and Red Bull wasn’t going to let him spend Sunday stuck behind midfielders.
Russell unfazed by Verstappen: “People thought Hamilton was unbeatable, too!”
How much did the engine help?
When asked how much of Verstappen’s recovery was due to the new power unit, Mekies was evasive.
“It’s difficult to quantify,” he said, though the grin on his face likely did the maths for him. Verstappen was flying: smooth, consistent and free of the vibrations that had plagued his older engine.
“The extra speed from a new engine usually doesn’t outweigh a grid penalty,” Mekies admitted. “But this time, there wasn’t one.”
Indeed, by starting from the pit lane, Red Bull avoided punishment entirely while enjoying the benefits of fresh hardware. Depending on your perspective, it was either a masterstroke or a cheeky exploitation of the rulebook’s grey areas.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s comments added further fuel to McLaren’s fire. “The car just felt perfect again,” he said after the race. This is great news for him, but not so much for those who suspect Red Bull may have slipped one past the stewards.
Counting the Costs
Red Bull’s accounting department might soon have to justify the expense. The team is expected to include engine costs in its end-of-season budget report to the FIA, though it remains to be seen whether this particular replacement will be included. Mekies’s casual ‘we were on schedule’ remark suggests it wasn’t part of a long-term reliability plan.
Nevertheless, Red Bull may have the spare cash. While McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has spent recent months testing the strength of carbon fibre barriers, Red Bull has enjoyed a relatively accident-free run. Fewer crashes mean fewer repair bills, and perhaps more room under the cap for a little engine indulgence. Meanwhile, Ferrari has been spending like a demolition derby contestant.
Once again, Red Bull is accused of bending the spirit, if not the letter, of Formula 1’s regulations. And, once again, they appear largely unbothered. They claim this was all part of a carefully managed plan, which they just happened to execute after Verstappen’s worst qualifying session in years.
For McLaren, the frustration is understandable. They have clawed their way into contention, only to find that the reigning champions are still capable of pulling a fast one, quite literally, when it matters most.
MORE F1 NEWS – Stella reveals Piastri achilles heel struck again in Brazil
McLaren’s team boss Andrea Stella has been repeating a narrative to explain why his Australian driver struggled so much in Austin and Mexico City. He claims Oscar Piastri’s driving style hampers him when the track conditions are low grip.
The team had encouraged him to adapt his driving style to resolve the issue in Mexico, although Oscar was unsure of how well the experiment had gone. “It’s difficult to say ultimately, I think we certainly tried a lot of different things, but at the back with cars as well, so it was difficult to kind of get a read on whether what I was changing with my driving was working that well or not,” Piastri said in the media pen.
The problem for the McLaren driver is that Las Vegas is next on the F1 calendar where the cold desert night temperatures will again see little grip in Sin City. The team’s expectations for Brazil were much higher for their young driver as the surface in Sao Paulo is abrasive often creating high tyre degradation.
São Paulo circuit more abrasive
And this year the degradation of the rubber was expected to be even higher,. Given the thousands of grooves cut into the track surface to improve drainage after 2024’s rain soaked Grand Prix. This is why Pirelli brought tyre compounds a step harder than last year, an unusual step given they have been generally selecting compounds this season which are softer to promote more pit stops.
It all began so well for the Australian who hasn’t been on the podium since his win in Zandvoort, he was milli seconds behind his team mate in practice with Lando Norris topping the time sheets. Yet come Sprint qualifying the two tenths gap to his team mate re-appeared and it is this which has defined much of Oscar’s woes in recent race weekend.
The Sprint was a disaster for Piastri again as early in the race as he pushed harder he hit the kerb in turn two by mistake, sending his McLaren hurtling into the barrier amidst showers of carbon fibre. He could only make P4 in Grand Prix qualifying and was now almost three tenths away from Norris who claimed his sixth pole position of the season…READ MORE
Craig.J. Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
Lordy – those McLaren bosses are grade one whingers, aren’t they!! Can’t POSSIBLY have folk out there trying to BEAT them … Stella has spent too much time around Brown who, in turn, has had Wolff’s sour grapes attitude toward RBR rub off on him.
IF IT’S NOT EXCLUDED BY THE RULES, IT’S ALLOWED! Suck it up, Papaya Boys
seems to me that they’ve learned from the best, Red Bull!
slam dunk, legal move so quit moaning McLaren