McLaren Chief Hits Back at Red Bull as ‘Tire Water’ Claims Resurface

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has taken a swipe at rival teams—seemingly Red Bull—by suggesting that teams should face financial penalties under the cost cap if they make baseless accusations against competitors. Speaking in Miami, Brown poked fun at the recent controversy by carrying a water bottle labeled “tire water,” mocking rumors that McLaren was manipulating tire and brake temperatures through a hidden system.

The rumor, reportedly started by Red Bull, dates back to 2024 when McLaren was suspected of using a water system during the Singapore Grand Prix. However, after an investigation, tire supplier Pirelli cleared McLaren of any wrongdoing.

Brown used the Miami event to highlight what he sees as a recurring issue in Formula 1—teams making informal accusations rather than following the official protest process, which includes a fee. He argued that unfounded claims create unnecessary distractions and suggested that if a protest is proven false, the cost should be deducted from the team’s cost cap to discourage such behavior.

In interviews, Brown emphasized the importance of accountability. He believes teams should be required to make formal, transparent protests backed by financial commitments, rather than using the media or private channels to stir controversy. He said that such a system would reduce frivolous claims and encourage a more professional approach to questioning rival strategies or car legality.

Brown proposed a protest fee of around €25,000, explaining that this amount is significant enough to make teams think twice about using protests as distractions rather than investing in performance improvements. The idea is to force teams to weigh the cost of protesting against the potential benefit to their own development efforts.

The rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull is not new. Last season, Red Bull questioned the legality of McLaren’s wing designs, leading to a regulatory crackdown on flexi wings and innovative DRS systems. Despite that, McLaren adapted and continued to perform strongly. Now, they lead the Constructors’ standings with 203 points, while Red Bull trails in third with 92, adding fuel to the ongoing tension between the teams.