FIA reportedly issues verdict on McLaren's contentious brake design

The FIA carried out thorough checks on McLaren after the conclusion of the 2025 Miami GP, and according to a report in The Race, the design fully complies with the regulations. This comes after Red Bull repeatedly complained about the Papayas' use of contentious brake designs during the season.

McLaren has been mighty this season, claiming five wins in six races. Last Sunday (May 4), the team showed its strength yet again as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris brought home a 1-2.

After the race, the FIA, F1's governing body, inspected the McLaren cars. The FIA did not reveal the results of the findings, and according to The Race, they are not expected to until the eve of the Emilia Romagna GP, the upcoming F1 race that is two weeks away.

However, the report added that the findings are undertsood to comply with the regulations, and that they are simply regarded as 'clever design' on McLaren's part.

The checks on McLaren have been going on after Red Bull, its fiercest competitor in recent times, reportedly pointed fingers at the Papaya team for tweaking the technical regulations through the contentious brake design and flexible front and rear wings.

However, the FIA took a stand on the flexible wings and stated that there will be stricter tests on the wings from the 2025 Spanish GP, the ninth race of this season.

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Max Verstappen's father slammed the FIA over late McLaren test

Max Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, shared his thoughts on the FIA's decision to have stricter tests on the flexible wings in Spain and called out the delays. He was of the opinion that Zak Brown's team found ample time to make use of the flexible wing before it got discarded, just in case.

Jos Verstappen and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk in the Paddock during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit - Source: Getty

“Suddenly there is a rule change around the wings… Then I think, ‘do that at the beginning of the year, then it’s the same for everyone,’" Verstappen Sr. said via Racexpress.

“But why after so many races, and then it’s no longer allowed? Then they have benefited from it until then. I think that’s so stupid, but that’s part of it, I think," he further added.

However, the FIA shared its stance and stated that it delayed the checks so that the teams did not have to discard the components they had already made for the first quarter of the season.

Currently, McLaren is in P1 in the Constructors' Championship with 246 points. Its two drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, hold P1 and P2 in the Drivers' Standings with 131 and 115 points, respectively.