The Formula 1 world was rocked by a controversial statement from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix in May. Amid ongoing accusations from Red Bull Racing towards McLaren over alleged illegal tyre cooling, Wolff fiercely defended McLaren. In an interview with RacingNews365, he stated: “I don’t believe McLaren is cheating. They have developed a superior car and they deserve respect.” The statement, which quickly went viral on X, highlights the growing tensions between top teams and puts a spotlight on the rivalry heading into the 2025 season.
The controversy began when Red Bull, after McLaren’s dominant performance in Miami, renewed allegations about using water in tires to regulate temperature. These claims, which had been circulating since 2024, were bolstered by Red Bull’s own research using thermal imaging cameras. McLaren CEO Zak Brown responded fiercely, challenging Red Bull to lodge an official protest with the FIA, which has so far failed to happen. Wolff supported McLaren by stressing that their speed comes from “good development” and not from rule violations. He called on teams to focus on their own performance rather than making accusations, a clear dig at Red Bull.
McLaren’s progress in 2025 has been impressive. With Lando Norris’ sprint win and Oscar Piastri’s consistent pace, the team put on a “gala performance” in Miami, as RacingNews365 put it. Their car proved superior on all tyre compounds, something that even Max Verstappen, who struggled to sixth in Miami, could not answer. Wolff praised McLaren’s consistency but admitted that Mercedes, despite solid third and fourth places in Melbourne, are not yet at their level. “McLaren is in a class of its own. We are fighting with Ferrari and Verstappen,” he said on X earlier in April.
Red Bull’s accusations appear to be partly driven by frustration. The team has been struggling with correlation issues that are preventing the RB21 from delivering the expected pace. Verstappen, who was almost a second a lap slower than Piastri in Bahrain, has expressed displeasure over a pit stop error and the “idiotic” FIA rules, as his father Jos agreed. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko admitted the team was hoping for a miracle update, but the gap to McLaren is growing. Some fans on X have speculated that Red Bull’s claims are a distraction from its own shortcomings.
Wolff’s support for McLaren is not without self-interest. Christijan Albers suggested in a podcast for De Telegraaf that Wolff and Brown may be sharing information to put pressure on Red Bull, especially with a view to a potential transfer of Verstappen to Mercedes in 2026. Although Verstappen will remain at Red Bull in 2025, Wolff is keeping the door open, as he indicated in 2024: “I don’t think he clearly said yes.” This strategic alliance between McLaren and Mercedes, informal or otherwise, strengthens their position against Red Bull.
The FIA ​​has yet to take official action, but stewards ruled in Miami on a separate incident in which Mercedes’ George Russell was cleared after a protest from Red Bull. This fuels the perception that Red Bull’s claims are getting little traction. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella called previous allegations about their rear wing and tyres “misinformation” and stressed the need to deal with such noise.
The Miami Grand Prix, with threatening downpours and McLaren’s dominance, marked a turning point in the season. Wolff’s statement, which underscored McLaren’s integrity, has further sharpened the dynamic in the paddock. While Red Bull struggle and Mercedes steadily improve, McLaren seem untouchable. Fans on X have praised Wolff’s stance, with one post stating: “Toto speaks the truth. Red Bull should stop complaining and race.” The battle for the title, both on and off the track, promises to heat up.
