McLaren has been officially cleared by the FIA of illegally using liquid for tire cooling following post-race inspections at the Miami Grand Prix.
The strong performance shown by the Woking-based team in the current 2024 season, particularly their dominant showing in Miami, had reportedly sparked suspicions among some rival teams that they might be utilizing techniques outside the regulations to keep their tires within their optimal operating temperature window during races.
Adding a touch of humor to the rumors, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown was even seen with a bottle playfully labeled “tire water” on the pit wall in Miami.
Ahead of the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the FIA released a technical delegate`s report from the previous race held in Miami on May 4th. This report stated that Oscar Piastri`s McLaren, a front-runner in the championship, had been randomly selected for more comprehensive post-race scrutiny.
The document detailed: “Following the Miami race, car number 81 [Piastri`s car] was randomly selected from the top ten finishers for more comprehensive physical checks.”
“These physical inspections focused on the wheel bodywork assemblies. Checks were performed on all four corners of the car, including verifying compliance with Technical Regulation (TR) Article 3.13 and conducting physical checks for compliance with TR Article 11.5 on all four corners.”
“All components examined were found to conform with the 2024 Formula One Technical Regulations.”
For clarity, the report referenced Technical Regulation Article 3.13, which pertains to wheel bodywork, and Article 11.5, which explicitly forbids the liquid cooling of brakes.
The document also noted that Charles Leclerc`s Ferrari underwent checks for various elements, including the steering wheel assembly and clutch operating device, and was also found to be fully compliant.
Piastri: No Concerns | Verstappen: Give Them Credit
McLaren`s performance in Miami was notable, with Lando Norris securing the win and Oscar Piastri finishing fourth. Their significant gap to the competition, like George Russell in third, drew particular attention.
Despite the speculation, the Australian driver insisted he was never worried that McLaren might be violating the rules.
Speaking after the report`s release on Thursday, Piastri commented: “Honestly, I haven`t read anything because I haven`t been concerned.”
He added lightheartedly: “Maybe next time we`ll put some little figurines in a water slide as well. We`ll come up with something.”
“Clearly, everything has been approved. I had no concerns, so we just race on.”
When asked about Red Bull`s perspective on the situation, Max Verstappen remarked: “I have also never said that it was not fine. They are clearly doing something very clever, and you have to give them credit for it.”
Gilbert Pendleton