In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, the FIA has officially penalized McLaren for manipulating tire temperatures during a recent Grand Prix weekend. The penalty comes after Red Bull Racing submitted what the FIA described as “compelling and detailed evidence” supporting their protest against McLaren’s tire preparation methods.

The controversy began shortly after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Red Bull engineers noticed anomalies in McLaren’s tire performance. According to Red Bull, McLaren’s tires appeared to have significantly better grip during the first laps of the race—raising suspicions that the team may have heated their tires beyond the FIA-regulated limits before fitting them to the car.

Red Bull lodged a formal complaint, and after a thorough investigation, the FIA has confirmed that McLaren violated Article 24.4(b) of the F1 Technical Regulations, which mandates that tires must not exceed 70°C for slicks and 60°C for wets prior to being fitted to the car. The investigation revealed that McLaren used a modified heating blanket setup to briefly elevate the internal temperature of the tires above the legal threshold without altering the outer surface temperature, making the infraction difficult to detect during standard FIA checks.

In a statement released on Monday morning, the FIA said:

“Following an investigation initiated after Red Bull Racing’s submission of new technical evidence, the FIA Technical Department has determined that McLaren F1 Team breached tire temperature regulations during the pre-race procedures in Baku. The evidence included telemetry data, infrared imaging, and pit lane video footage.”

As a consequence, McLaren has been fined €150,000 and docked 10 Constructors’ Championship points. Although the FIA ruled that the infraction did not alter the race result significantly, the team’s actions were deemed “deliberate and in violation of the spirit of fair competition.”

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella responded to the penalty in a press briefing:

“We accept the FIA’s ruling and take full responsibility. It was never our intention to gain an unfair advantage, but rather a misjudgment in the way we interpreted the rules concerning tire warm-up. We will review and revise our internal protocols to ensure full compliance moving forward.”

Notably, Max Verstappen also weighed in on the controversy. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport, the reigning World Champion said:

“It’s frustrating to see teams still trying to bend the rules. We all push to the limit, but there’s a line. I respect McLaren as a competitor, but this incident shows why strict enforcement of the rules is crucial. At the end of the day, the sport’s integrity must come first.”

This incident has reignited the long-standing debate over the complexity and ambiguity of F1’s technical regulations. Some team principals, including Toto Wolff of Mercedes, have called for clearer guidelines and stricter pre-race inspections to avoid similar controversies in the future.

“It’s not just about punishing wrongdoing,” Wolff said. “It’s about making sure all teams have a clear and fair understanding of what’s allowed. Transparency and consistency in regulation are key.”

As the F1 circus heads to the Monaco Grand Prix next, all eyes will be on McLaren to see how the team recovers both on and off the track. The incident marks a significant setback for the British team, which has shown strong form this season with Lando Norris scoring multiple podium finishes.

With the championship battle intensifying, the FIA’s actions underscore its commitment to preserving competitive fairness and enforcing regulations equally across the grid.