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FIA Clears McLaren Over Alleged Tyre Cooling During Miami GP
The FIA has officially cleared McLaren of any wrongdoing following an investigation into claims that the team used an illegal method to cool tyres during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The probe was launched after rival teams raised concerns over McLaren’s strong performance, with Oscar Piastri taking a dominant win and Lando Norris starting from the front row.
The speculation centered on Article 11.5 of the 2025 Formula One Technical Regulations, which prohibits the use of any liquids or refrigeration systems to alter tyre temperatures once the wheels are mounted on the car. McLaren’s impressive pace raised suspicions that they may have found a clever way around the rule.
Fueling the chatter, McLaren CEO Zak Brown playfully appeared on the pit wall with a transparent bottle labeled “tire water,” clearly mocking the rumors. While intended as a joke, the stunt went viral and drew further attention to the issue.
In response, the FIA conducted a detailed inspection of Piastri’s car—chassis number 81—as part of its standard post-race protocol. The investigation took place ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, focusing on compliance with both Article 11.5 and Article 3.13, which deals with component registration.
The FIA’s technical team performed a full teardown of the wheel assemblies and brake ducts, searching for signs of any systems that could cool the tyres using liquid or phase-changing materials. No such systems were found, and all inspected parts matched McLaren’s registered specifications.
The FIA’s final report confirmed that “all inspected components were in full conformance with the 2025 Formula One Technical Regulations,” effectively ending any suspicion of rule-breaking.
This outcome is a major relief for McLaren, who have emerged as early-season title contenders following the introduction of their upgraded MCL38B chassis. Technical director Peter Prodromou has consistently stated that the team’s gains come from improved aerodynamics and mechanical grip, not from exploiting loopholes.
With the matter settled, Piastri keeps his Miami win and leads the Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren heads to Imola at the top of the Constructors’ standings. For rival teams, the focus now shifts from rumors to finding real performance gains—especially as cooler conditions at Imola will test everyone’s tyre management abilities.
