McLaren F1 star Lando Norris slams 'nonsense' Red Bull accusations

Formula 1

McLaren F1 star Lando Norris slams 'nonsense' Red Bull accusations

McLaren star Lando Norris has issued a claim over rival 'nonsense' in F1

By Kerry Violet.

Wednesday 2 July 2025 21:00

McLaren F1 star Lando Norris has dismissed any allegations against his team and their current car as 'nonsense'.

It has been reported that Red Bull have had concerns that some of their rivals, including McLaren, have been using water in their tires to cool them, thus allowing them to last longer during a race.

The FIA, however, found no evidence of this whatsoever. Following the Miami GP, the FIA selected race-winner Oscar Piastri's car among the top ten race finishers for detailed inspections, but investigations into McLaren's wheel bodywork and compliance with technical regulations all came back clean, clearing the papaya team of any wrongdoing.

Now, speaking on the latest episode of F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Norris said: "You learn that in pre-school," in reference to the tire-water accusations from Red Bull.

"It’s been very amusing seeing what people can come up with and just create out of nonsense.

"We’re under more scrutiny, there’s more checks, there’s been more rules, there’s been more implements of things to try slow us down and make things more difficult. But that’s just life at the top."

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"When you get to the top, you have more people trying to drag you down, especially when it’s team against team. That’s a big part of it for them is trying to see how you can get at each other," he continued.

"In some ways, it’s any means necessary for a team to try and get back to being on top and sometimes, it’s individuals coming out with somehow bizarre theories of water in tyres, or in the brake ducts, which means you’re doing a good job if people are having to come up with such nonsense."

Oscar Piastri's McLaren was cleared by the FIA in Miami earlier this year

How did Red Bull respond to the FIA's verdict over McLaren's tyres?

Following the verdict from F1's governing body which cleared McLaren of any 'illegal' tire tricks, Red Bull principal Christian Horner said: "In Formula 1, there are always going to be questions that are raised.

"They did exactly the same about the front suspension in our car last year," in reference to McLaren's own complaint against their rivals.

Giving his perspective having once stood at the top of the standings, Horner agreed with Norris' recent sentiment, saying: "It’s inevitable when you’re running at the front as we have for the last few years, you always come under more scrutiny. That’s part and parcel of Formula 1,"

"In many respects, for the FIA, the teams, all of the teams, do the vast majority of the work, because their resource is far greater, and there’s always a competitor analysis going on across all of the teams. That’s just part of Formula 1."

NASCAR Red Bull McLaren Lando Norris FIA Oscar Piastri