The Paddock Formula 1 buzzes from drama after the latest developments in the constant rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull. On May 10, 2025, the FIA, the administrative body of Formula 1, responded to the allegations of McLaren with regard to the alleged use of Red Bull through illegal technical benefits, specifically related to a front library -public Red car from Red Bull. The controversy, which dominated the headlines, took an intriguing turn when reports appeared that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown were once good friends, who added a personal layer to the deflecting Saga.

The dispute began when McLaren expressed his concern about the front slabbuts of Red Bull, a mechanism that could make ride height changes possible during Parc Fermé circumstances, a clear violation of F1 regulations. The FIA ​​investigated and, prior to the Grand Prix of the United States in 2024, implemented seals to prevent such adjustments, stating that there was no evidence that Red Bull exploited the device illegally. McLaren, led by Brown,, however, demanded a deeper probe or Red Bull in previous races, with the argument that such an infringement Red Bull could have given a significant performance advantage. The FIA, led by Ben Sulayem, rejected this call, with Nikolas Tombazis, head of Single-Seater cases, who declared the case closed. This decision led to McLaren’s frustration, where Brown publicly questioned the transparency and thoroughness of the FIA.

Adding fuel to the fire, McLaren’s recent dominance in the 2025 season – leads the constructors championship and challenges Max Verstappen from Red Bull with Lando Norris – more intensively the rivalry. Red Bull took revenge by accusing McLaren of the use of illegal Tyre-Cooling methods, specifically injecting water in tires to manage temperatures, a practice that Red Bull claimed to have experimented before it was forbidden. The FIA, next to tire supplier Pirelli, investigated these claims in Brazil in 2024 and found no proof of misconduct. McLaren’s Andrea Stella rejected the accusations as “a very simple matter” with a sensor cat that was closed after FIA clarification, while Brown took a shot at Red Bull by drinking from a bottle with the “Tyre Water” label during the training in Miami.

The response of the FIA ​​to McLaren’s newest accusations came on 10 May 2025, when Ben Sulayem supported Brown’s proposal to introduce a financial deteriorator for frivolous protests, which suggests that a down payment as high as $ 50,000 to discourage unfounded complaints. This movement was seen as a reconciling gesture to McLaren, but it also emphasized the complex relationship between Ben Sulayem and Brown. Sources showed that the two were once good friends, who had forged a bond during the early years of Brown in Motorsport Marketing and the term of office of Ben Sulayem as a rally driver and motorsport officer. Their friendship, although allegedly cooled in recent years because of their professional roles, has raised eyebrows among fans and experts, with some on X who speculated about potential bias in the statements of the FIA.

Despite the personal history, the FIA ​​has maintained its position of impartiality. Ben Sulayem emphasized the need for evidence-based complaints and stated: “You can’t just accuse anyone without a written complaint and that protest, you have to pay money.” This is in line with the call from Brown to Transparency, because he has repeatedly encouraged the FIA ​​to openly handle investigations to maintain the integrity of the sport. The pronounced criticism of the McLaren CEO on Red Bull, including labeling their budget cap fracture from 2022 as “cheating”, has kept tensions high, whereby the Christian Horner of Red Bull McLaren’s accusations as “sour grapes” rejects.

The Red Bull-McLaren-Vete, now around Flexi-Wings, Tyre-Cooling-Trucs and BIB-ADJUSTERS, underlines the fierce competition in the 2025 season of F1. McLaren’s MCL39, powered by Norris and Oscar Piastri, has been a highlight, but the suspicions of Red Bull -returned by thermal image cameras at Pitstops -will get the length teams a lead. For fans, the drama of the track is just as moving as racing, with posts on X that reflect distributed sentiments: some praise Brown’s courage, while others question the handling of the FIA ​​disputes.

As the season progresses, the capacity of the FIA ​​to navigate through these allegations will be crucial. The earlier friendship between Ben Sulayem and Brown adds a human element to the struggle with high effort, but both men look aimed at their professional tasks. For now, McLaren and Red Bull continue their championship fight, where the paddock eagerly waits for the next chapter in this compelling saga.