Formula 1, this circus on wheels where speed is measured in milliseconds and rivalries in inflammatory statements, has just ignited once again. In the midst of a 2025 season that was already shaping up to be epic – with McLaren leading the constructors’ championship and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen lurking in the shadows – a barrage of accusations erupted in the paddock. Laurent Mekies, the new Red Bull team principal, launched a frontal attack against the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA): “hidden” rules designed to favor McLaren and dethrone the energy drink company’s team. Unsatisfied, Verstappen railed against a controversial engine change which, according to him, disrupts the balance of the competition. The FIA, true to its reputation as an inflexible arbiter, reacted immediately, further exacerbating tensions in an already explosive sport.
It all began in the shadow of the Brazilian Grand Prix, held at Interlagos last weekend. Verstappen, four-time world champion and perennial title contender, qualified a disastrous sixteenth after a mistake on his flying lap. Red Bull, in a bold move, broke parc fermé regulations – the system that locks the car’s setup after qualifying – and completely replaced the Honda engine in the Dutchman’s RB21. This was no simple overhaul: the internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-K and MGU-H modules, battery, and control electronics were all replaced. Verstappen started from the pits, receiving an automatic penalty, but staged a spectacular comeback to finish third behind Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli.
The issue wasn’t the turnaround – Verstappen excels at that – but the cost of this “luxury,” as Mekies called it. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was quick to respond. “These engines don’t show significant degradation with mileage,” Stella said after the race. “Changing it under these conditions doesn’t seem logical from a reliability standpoint; it looks more like a performance-enhancing maneuver.” But the final blow struck at the financial heart of F1: the $135 million budget cap per team for 2025. According to Stella, if the change wasn’t due to a “valid” mechanical failure – as required by FIA regulations – it should be counted as an additional expense, potentially breaching the cap. “I want to know whether this engine meets the cost limit or not,” the Italian insisted, opening the way for an official investigation.
Mekies, the former FIA chief executive and now head of Red Bull following Christian Horner’s departure, didn’t mince words. In a subsequent press conference, the Frenchman defended the decision as a “luxury choice” given the pit lane start, but he went further. He accused the FIA of applying “hidden rules” that he claimed favored McLaren. “The FIA has been inconsistent in its application of the technical and financial regulations,” Mekies said, citing precedents such as the leniency shown towards certain upgrades made by McLaren at key circuits. “This isn’t just about an engine; it’s a practice that favors certain teams to ‘balance’ the championship. Red Bull has been subjected to extensive inspections, while others make changes without being checked.”
His comments echoed past battles: recall the multi-million dollar fines levied against Red Bull for the “flexible wing” incident in 2022, or the accusations made by McLaren CEO Zak Brown regarding data sharing between Red Bull and its satellite team, RB. Verstappen, ever direct and outspoken, joined the chorus of protest. The Dutch driver, known for his clashes with the FIA – from the “Verstappen rule” on braking maneuvers to penalties for foul language – made no secret of his frustration with the engine change. “I don’t agree with it,” he declared in a post-race interview. “F1 should be about talent and strategy, not budgetary gambles. If you allow a team to spend more under the guise of ‘performance,’ where’s the fairness?” Verstappen, who has accumulated nine penalty points and risks a suspension, sees this controversy as a disguised attempt to curb his dominance. His father, Jos Verstappen, a former driver and controversial figure, added fuel to the fire on social media: “McLaren and the FIA are cheating to crown Norris. Max doesn’t need favors; he needs fair rules.”
The FIA’s reaction was immediate. Just 24 hours after the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the governing body released an official statement that exacerbated tensions. “The Federation will examine the case of Red Bull’s power unit change at the next F1 Commission meeting, scheduled for this Friday,” the statement read. But the real coup lay in the mention of “immediate measures to ensure transparency.” Internal sources revealed that the FIA had requested detailed documentation on the costs of the Honda engine and could impose a retroactive audit in the event of irregularities. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, was more explicit during a conference call with the teams: “We will not tolerate unfounded accusations that undermine the integrity of the sport.
The regulations are clear: performance-driven modifications are taken into account in the salary cap. Red Bull will have to justify a valid reason, or face sanctions.” This immediate reaction not only reinforced the FIA’s authority but also fueled tensions. Mekies called it “disproportionate and selective,” while McLaren’s Brown welcomed it: “It’s time the FIA acted firmly; we’ve been demanding answers for months. ” The paddock, a veritable hotbed of rumors, is buzzing with speculation. Is this a power struggle for financial control ahead of the 2026 revolution, with its hybrid engines and redesigned chassis? Or is it a personal war between Red Bull—owner of two teams—and its rivals like McLaren and Mercedes, who see Verstappen’s dominance as a threat to the sport’s balance?
The impact on the standings is undeniable. McLaren leads Red Bull by 16 points after Norris’s victory in Brazil, but Verstappen, thanks to his “miraculous” podium finish, has closed the gap in the drivers’ championship. If the FIA rules against Red Bull, sanctions could drastically alter the end of the season: fines, point deductions, or even budget adjustments for 2026. Fans, divided on social media – with hashtags like #JusticeForMax and #FairPlayF1 – are waiting to see what happens next. Meanwhile, in Milton Keynes, Red Bull’s engineers are working tirelessly on the RB21, and in Woking, Stella is preparing its counter-attack.
This controversy goes beyond mere technical considerations; it reminds us that F1 is not just about speed, but a veritable chessboard where the financial stakes are enormous and the blows fatal. With three races remaining – Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi – the title hangs by a thread. Will the FIA manage to dethrone Red Bull? Or will Verstappen, the eternal rebel, once again impose his will? One thing is certain: in Formula 1, the hidden rules always come to light, and the pits never get a moment’s rest.
