🛑 F1 NEWS: Mohammed Ben Sulayem GOES OFF At Red Bull For Attempted PROTEST Against McLaren!

BARCELONA, SPAIN — Formula 1 has just been rocked by another major controversy, and this time it’s FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem himself who is furious—directly calling out Red Bull Racing for what he’s calling an “unfounded and irresponsible attempt” to launch a protest against McLaren’s tire-cooling system.

Red Bull’s behind-the-scenes efforts to raise suspicions over McLaren’s incredible tire management have backfired in spectacular fashion, with the FIA threatening new penalties for any teams making baseless accusations without hard proof.

“This is not how professional Formula 1 teams conduct themselves,” Ben Sulayem reportedly told senior FIA officials in a fiery internal meeting.

“We will no longer tolerate reckless shade-throwing disguised as competitive analysis.”

🔥 THE ALLEGATION: Red Bull Accuses, McLaren Laughs

It all started after the Miami GP, where Red Bull insiders began hinting at McLaren’s possible use of illegal water-based tire cooling systems—a suggestion flatly denied by Pirelli and dismissed as “physically impossible” by technical experts.

But instead of owning the claim, Red Bull tiptoed around direct accusations—refusing to file a formal protest, yet continuing to plant suspicion through selective media leaks and comments about “thermal anomalies” captured in onboard footage.

McLaren team boss Zak Brown was having none of it.

“If you want to accuse someone, do it with your wallet,” Brown snapped.

“File a written protest. Pay for the investigation. And if you’re wrong—you eat it on your budget cap.”

💸 BUDGET CAP BACKFIRE: New Rule Proposal Approved

Brown’s aggressive counter-attack struck a nerve—and surprisingly, FIA President Ben Sulayem backed it.

Effective immediately, any team lodging an official protest must pay for the investigation out of their own budget cap. If the protest is justified, that money is returned. If it’s not, the cost stays—a brutal new rule that aims to kill off baseless accusations once and for all.

Ben Sulayem said the move is about “discipline, not drama” and aims to restore professionalism in a paddock that’s increasingly turning into a gossip battleground.

🧠 RED BULL STRATEGY UNDER FIRE

This isn’t the first time Red Bull has used media narratives to destabilize its rivals. But McLaren’s rise has clearly rattled the Milton Keynes squad, and this latest strategy seems to have backfired massively.

With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri regularly outpacing Red Bull, and McLaren’s MCL39 being called “the new benchmark” in tire management, it’s clear that the Woking outfit has taken the momentum.

Team Principal Andrea Stella didn’t mince words either:

“Red Bull are masters of fast cars and… fast narratives.

But we prefer to focus on facts, not fairytales.”

He added:

“We read the stories, we turn the page, and we go back to racing.”

⚠️ PRESSURE ON VERSTAPPEN

Insiders suggest this entire media battle is part of a larger strategy to protect Max Verstappen’s position—especially if Red Bull starts falling out of championship contention.

Why?

Because if Verstappen drops out of the top 3 in the Drivers’ Championship, he could invoke performance clauses in his contract and walk away from the team.

And with the Barcelona GP and its upcoming front wing clampdown, Red Bull knows time is running out.

🗳️ POLITICS AT PLAY?

Some believe this entire saga is also a play by Ben Sulayem to prove leadership strength ahead of the upcoming FIA presidential elections, especially with Carlos Sainz Sr. rumored to be preparing a run.

In this light, his strong stance against Red Bull might be less about tire cooling—and more about consolidating power.

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🚨 WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

With tensions skyrocketing between Red Bull and McLaren—and now the FIA directly involved—the 2025 season is entering a new phase of political warfare.

• Will Red Bull strike back?

• Will McLaren widen the gap on track?

• And will Verstappen even finish the season in red and blue?

All eyes are on Barcelona.

And if this latest war of words is any sign—we’re just getting started.

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