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FIA Clears McLaren Over Alleged Tire Cooling Trick Amid Rising Dominance
The FIA has officially cleared McLaren of any wrongdoing following suspicions that the team may have used an illegal liquid-based cooling method to optimize tyre temperatures during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. After a detailed post-race inspection, the governing body found no evidence that McLaren violated any regulations, bringing an end to weeks of paddock speculation over the team’s impressive early-season form.
The controversy began after McLaren’s strong showing in Miami, where Oscar Piastri claimed another commanding victory to extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, and teammate Lando Norris secured a front-row start. Their dominant performance sparked whispers among rivals, many of whom questioned whether McLaren had found a clever way to circumvent Article 11.5 of the 2025 Technical Regulations. This rule explicitly prohibits the use of any fluids or refrigeration systems to alter tyre temperatures after the wheels are fitted to the car.
Fueling the buzz, McLaren CEO Zak Brown cheekily played into the rumors by appearing on the pit wall with a transparent drink bottle labeled “tire water,” clearly mocking rival teams’ suspicions. The stunt went viral on social media but also drew more scrutiny from competitors.
As part of its standard random inspection protocol, the FIA selected Piastri’s car—chassis number 81—for a detailed teardown. The investigation was carried out ahead of the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. Inspectors focused on two key areas: verifying that the car’s components matched the registered specifications under Article 3.13 and checking for compliance with Article 11.5, which covers tyre cooling systems.
The teardown involved the complete disassembly of all four wheel assemblies and brake ducts. Officials confirmed there were no pipes, reservoirs, channels, or phase-change materials that could facilitate the flow of chilled liquid to the tyres. Every part matched the specifications McLaren had submitted at the start of the season.
The technical delegate’s report concluded that “all inspected components were in full conformance with the 2025 Formula One Technical Regulations,” effectively exonerating McLaren of any illegal conduct.
This outcome is a major relief for the team, which has re-emerged as a frontrunner thanks to its revamped MCL38B chassis introduced at the season opener in Australia. McLaren’s technical director, Peter Prodromou, has consistently maintained that their success is down to traditional engineering strengths—namely, aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical grip—not any sort of trickery or borderline innovations.
With the FIA’s investigation now settled, Piastri retains his Miami victory and heads into Imola with a performance edge intact and no lingering doubts about the legitimacy of his results. For other teams, the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly light-hearted jokes can spark serious inquiries.
As McLaren leads both championships six races into the season, rivals will need to respond with tangible performance gains rather than suspicions. The next test comes at Imola, where cooler temperatures will challenge every team’s tyre management—regardless of whether water bottles are involved.
