Red Bull has raised suspicions that its 2024 championship contender, McLaren, might be manipulating the rules to enhance tyre cooling.
Team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko expressed his astonishment at McLaren's dramatic improvement at the recent Silverstone race.
"When we had the McLaren behind us, they were literally flying," he reported to Speed Week. "It was unbelievable. They were a second or more faster than us and also than the Mercedes."
These observations align with a new revelation from Auto Motor und Sport, which stated, "Red Bull recently discovered an additional hole on the brake ventilation drums of the McLaren MCL38 at the front and rear that shouldn't be there."
The speculation is that the hole might be used for accessing a sensor, a common feature throughout the pitlane. However, correspondent Michael Schmidt noted, "Red Bull suspects McLaren created an additional cooling channel that is not allowed."
The German magazine also featured a photograph showing the controversial hole sealed with silver tape.
"According to Red Bull's observations," Schmidt reported, "the holes were apparently open at some races. After a complaint, the FIA took a closer look."
"At the last two grands prix," he continued, "the sensor access points were closed, as required by the rules."
