The biggest rivalry of 2024 has been between the frontrunners—Red Bull and McLaren. While Red Bull ran on a momentous form of 2023, McLaren halted their winning streak. The British squad introduced regular upgrades to fight the reigning world champion. Since the Miami GP, the battle has gotten intense, as the Papaya squad has pushed the Bulls into a corner. Currently, McLaren is leading the charts, with Ferrari and Red Bull still chasing them.
However, the Red Bull-McLaren rivalry has been fierce, both on and off the track. The two arch-nemeses have exchanged endless verbal exchanges, never missing a chance to hit back at each other. Lano Norris and Max Verstappen have locked horns in the last couple of races, resulting in an intense fight. In Austin, Max Verstappen finished ahead of Lando Norris despite going off track during the race. However, he faced penalties in Singapore for forcing Norris off the track along with him. Now, as the race to the world title gets intense, Red Bull suspects McLaren is using illegal means to cool down the tire temperature.
Red Bull Accuses McLaren Of Water Injection In Tires for Temperature Management
McLaren and Red Bull have been locked in a series of accusations throughout the current Formula 1 season; each team alleges the other is cheating or exploiting loopholes. The tension began when Red Bull accused McLaren of using an excessively flexible rear wing flap during the Baku Grand Prix. In response, McLaren claimed that Red Bull was utilizing an illegal component designed to adjust the height of its car’s underbody.
Recently, a German publication, Auto Motor und Sport report, revealed that Red Bull has made new allegations against McLaren, claiming that the team is again manipulating the rules. This time, Red Bull alleges that McLaren is adding a small amount of water into its tires through the valves to assist with cooling. According to the report, this practice is said to provide a competitive advantage, and it is suggested that several other teams may also be benefitting from similar tactics.
The FIA is currently investigating these allegations, although Pirelli, the tire supplier, has reported no irregularities thus far. Tire usage in Formula 1 is strictly regulated, making it quite challenging for a team to add water to a tire without Pirelli’s knowledge. Pirelli technicians are responsible for mounting and dismounting tires for the teams, and teams are prohibited from manipulating the tires once they have been mounted. Additionally, Pirelli’s presence in the paddock is significant, making it difficult to carry out such practices unnoticed. After each race, Pirelli collects all tires for analysis, and any traces of fluid found inside the tires would be reported, further complicating any attempts to gain an unfair advantage through this method.
Red Bull Already Used The Tire Injection Trick
According to Auto Motor Und Sport, the Red Bull team has used this trick in the past while experimenting with tire temperature. Earlier, there was a loophole in the FIA’s guidelines, which gave the teams a window to add external fluid to the tires. However, the FIA soon cemented the loophole, and only Pirelli technicians could operate the tires during race weekends.
