In a dramatic twist just days before lights out at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing has officially announced its withdrawal from the race weekend, citing frustration over the handling of its formal complaints and the recent public statements made by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
The controversy centers around Red Bull’s allegations that McLaren has been using a water-based tyre cooling method, an innovation that many suspect may violate FIA regulations. Red Bull had petitioned the FIA to investigate the MCL39, claiming thermal data indicated tire temperatures that could not be explained by legal means. But Mercedes boss Wolff threw cold water on the claims, saying he “doesn’t believe the accusations are founded in reality.”
Following Wolff’s comments, Red Bull issued a bombshell statement:
“Red Bull Racing has made the difficult decision not to participate in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. We cannot, in good conscience, continue to compete under a regulatory framework where serious technical concerns are dismissed publicly before a thorough investigation is completed,” the team said in a press release issued Thursday afternoon.
“We respect the process and the FIA’s authority, but when other teams, particularly those in influential positions, publicly undermine that process, it compromises the integrity of the sport.”
Toto Wolff, speaking to Motorsport-Total, had said earlier this week:
“Honestly, I don’t think McLaren’s gains are illegal. We may not understand it yet, but jumping to conclusions without full evidence is not how we move the sport forward.”
This response, it seems, was the final straw for Red Bull.
The FIA has yet to comment on Red Bull’s withdrawal, but sources within the paddock suggest that urgent meetings are being held to de-escalate the situation. Several teams are reportedly unhappy with the potential precedent this sets, especially with a tightly packed triple-header calendar on the horizon.
Red Bull’s decision has sent shockwaves through the F1 community, raising questions about transparency, competition ethics, and how disputes between teams are handled in the public eye.
For now, Red Bull’s absence from Imola will leave a significant gap on the grid — and leave the championship picture more chaotic than ever.