Red Bull Racing has officially responded to swirling allegations about unusual tyre wear patterns during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, after McLaren hinted at “something not quite right” with Max Verstappen’s performance. The controversy marks the latest chapter in an increasingly fierce rivalry at the top of the 2025 Formula 1 championship.

Despite starting behind Oscar Piastri, Verstappen seized the lead at Turn One and managed his tyres flawlessly to secure a dominant victory at Imola. The win has reignited the title fight, narrowing Verstappen’s deficit in the standings and raising eyebrows over how Red Bull’s RB20 handled the notoriously punishing Italian circuit.

Following the race, a McLaren spokesperson voiced skepticism over Red Bull’s unexpected tyre durability:

“We know how aggressive Imola is on tyres, especially over longer stints. But what we saw from Red Bull – particularly from Max – just didn’t match what the data suggested should be possible. Something didn’t feel right.”

In the wake of those comments, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko hit back sharply, stating that McLaren were simply outperformed.

“We were actually the same or better than McLaren in terms of tyre wear,” Marko told Sky Germany. “The updates we brought have had their full effect. Max drove a flawless race. The car was balanced, the tyre degradation was controlled – and the result speaks for itself.”

Max Verstappen himself also addressed the accusations in the post-race press conference:

“If someone thinks we’ve done something illegal, they should bring proof,” Verstappen said. “I know how hard the team has worked to improve this car. We didn’t win because of a trick — we won because we nailed every aspect of the weekend.”

The Dutchman continued, defending Red Bull’s tyre strategy and performance:

“McLaren’s been strong, no doubt, but we found a better setup this time, and it worked. People always look for excuses when they lose, but I focus on results.”

The tension between Red Bull and McLaren is expected to intensify as the season progresses. A new technical directive related to front wing regulations is set to come into effect at the Spanish Grand Prix, with rumors suggesting it may affect McLaren more than others.

With Monaco up next, Verstappen trails championship leader Piastri by just 22 points, while Lando Norris sits only nine points ahead in second place. As the title race heats up, so too does the off-track drama — and neither Red Bull nor McLaren appears ready to back down.