F1 PETITION: 3 MINUTES AGO: McLaren accused Christian Horner “you Lobbied” for FIA Rule Change that… Read more
McLaren Claims Horner Lobbying Backfired, Reinforcing Woking’s Dominance
August 2025
McLaren Racing is quietly expressing that Red Bull’s push for a mid-season regulation change earlier this year, led by team principal Christian Horner, ultimately strengthened rather than softened McLaren’s edge in the championship.
The root of the controversy lies in the FIA’s decision to clamp down on flexible front wings beginning at the Spanish Grand Prix — the ninth round of the season. The regulation lowered the allowable symmetrical flex from 15 mm to 10 mm, and narrowed single-side allowances from 20 mm to 15 mm.
Red Bull, which had previously raised concerns about excessive aero-elasticity in McLaren’s design, had lobbied for the change to be enforced from the start of the 2025 season. Their push stemmed from a desire to neutralize what they saw as a questionable advantage in McLaren’s front-wing flexibility. However, the FIA opted for a slower implementation, delaying the directive until race nine due to concerns over wasted development for teams that had already designed to the original specification.
Ironically, McLaren has only grown stronger since the implementation. The British outfit claimed five wins in six races between the rule’s enforcement and early August, including one in Spain under the new restrictions. This streak has relegated Red Bull to fourth in the constructors’ standings, 365 points adrift of McLaren — who sit firmly in first place.
“It looks increasingly likely that Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are now in a straight fight to win the drivers’ title,” noted one report, adding that Max Verstappen trails Piastri by an astounding 97 points after 14 of 24 races.
The unintended consequence? McLaren believes that Horner’s lobbying may have backfired spectacularly — by accelerating an aero-directive that, rather than slowing down their rise, consolidated it.
Throughout the dual battle, McLaren has consistently defended the legality of its designs. The team’s technical clarity and innovation, especially in cooling and tyre-management strategies, have remained firmly within the FIA’s regulations — even amid repeated scrutiny from rivals.
Notably, the FIA investigated suspicions surrounding McLaren’s rear-brake cooling systems and even the widely-speculated “water-in-tyre” theory. No breaches were found, and McLaren was formally cleared.
Still, the lobbying saga highlights how precarious and political F1’s regulatory environment can be. Red Bull’s tactical gambit to shift the rules down the road may have misfired, handing McLaren a more insulated lead.
As one paddock insider put it, “Red Bull wanted the clampdown from race one… but ended up reinforcing McLaren’s advantage when it finally came in.”
Now, McLaren’s lead is comfortable, their performances consistent, and their rivals forced to reckon with the fact that pushing for change doesn’t guarantee a turnaround — especially when it comes at the cost of a carefully honed package like the MCL39.
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