📷🚨 McLaren drops a BOMB on Red Bull with a SHOCKING ILLEGAL ACCUSATION!
The Brazilian Grand Prix left fans with their mouths open. Max Verstappen, starting from the pit lane in torrential rain, climbed to the podium in a performance that is already shaping up to be legendary. However, while the world applauded the spectacle, McLaren was closely observing a detail that could change everything. Does Red Bull’s engine change violate the regulations? The British team has filed a formal protest that puts the technical integrity of the championship in check.
It all started in Interlagos. The FIA authorized Red Bull to replace the power unit outside the stipulated limit, citing exceptional safety conditions. Verstappen, penalized for exceeding the annual engine quota, received a new specification that, according to McLaren, incorporates prohibited evolutions. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, did not hesitate to point this out. “We have reviewed the data and we believe that there are elements that do not respect the agreed technical freeze. It is not a minor complaint; it is a question of fairness for all teams,” Brown declared in an impromptu press conference after the race.
The Formula 1 regulations are clear from 2022: engines must remain homologated without performance modifications until 2026. Any change requires unanimous approval or justification of force majeure. Red Bull defended the replacement by claiming irreparable damage to the original engine, but McLaren presented telemetry suggesting improvements in thermal management and power delivery. “If this is allowed, we open the door to interpretations that unbalance the grid,” added Andrea Stella, McLaren technical director, visibly upset as he left the garage.
The controversy is not new. In 2021, Red Bull and Honda were investigated for alleged fuel flow flexibilities. That time they were successful, but the precedent weighs. Now, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fighting for the constructors’ title, McLaren is not willing to give ground. Internal sources at the Woking team reveal that they have requested a forensic analysis of the RB20 engine from the FIA, including bench testing and comparison of injection maps.
Laurent Mekies, head of Red Bull, responded with his usual forcefulness. “It is a baseless accusation. Everything has been approved by the stewards and the FIA. McLaren should focus on its own performance instead of looking for excuses,” said Mekies from the Red Bull hospitality, where the atmosphere was absolutely calm. However, the smile did not hide the tension: a penalty could cost Verstappen valuable points and, by extension, the leadership in the drivers’ championship.
The potential impact is devastating. If the FIA validates the protest, Red Bull could face a retroactive disqualification of the result in Brazil, which would hand victory to Norris and drastically cut Verstappen’s lead. Furthermore, a financial fine and the prohibition of using that specification in the next races would alter the balance of forces between now and Abu Dhabi.
But there is more. Engineers consulted off-mic suggest that the change not only affects immediate performance, but could have served as a test bed for future developments. “A new engine in real racing conditions generates data that is not obtained in dyno. That is gold for 2026,” explained a former Ferrari designer who preferred anonymity. Suspicion grows: was the damage real or a calculated strategy?
The FIA has confirmed that it will review the documentation this week. Charlie Whiting, at the time, used to say that “Formula 1 lives on technical doubt.” Today, that doubt has its own name: Max Verstappen’s number 6 engine. Meanwhile, tifosi on social media debate passionately. A viral tweet sums up the feeling: “If Red Bull wins with an illegal engine, where is the sportsmanship?”
McLaren does not act on a whim. Its MCL38 car has shown consistency, but Red Bull’s constant updates have kept the pressure on. The difference in the constructors’ championship is just 34 points. Every unit of power counts, every tenth matters. Zak Brown knows this and that is why he has decided to stand up. “We are not asking for favors, we are asking for equal rules for everyone,” the American insisted, hinting that this battle transcends Brazil.
The precedent of 2023, when Aston Martin was penalized for a flexible wing, reinforces McLaren’s position. The FIA acted quickly then; now the same is expected. The stewards have in their hands not only the result of a race, but also the credibility of the technical regulations.
It remains to be seen if the accusation succeeds. What no one disputes is Verstappen’s talent. His underwater comeback was masterful, but the beautiful game demands that the magic be done within the white lines. Red Bull trusts in its transparency; McLaren, in its tests. Between them, Formula 1 enters a terrain where technology and politics collide violently.
The next event in Las Vegas could be held with a shadow of uncertainty. If the FIA rules in favor of McLaren, the championship will take a historic turn. If it acquits Red Bull, the Austrian team will consolidate its dominance. Whatever the verdict, one thing is certain: the rivalry between Woking and Milton Keynes has just heated up like never before. And the fans, waiting for each statement, are already counting the hours to learn the truth behind the engine that could decide a world title.
