Norris blasts Red Bull: ‘Stop complaining and build a better car’

Lando Norris has fired back at Red Bull in the latest twist of Formula 1's intensifying off-track battles, telling the reigning champions to focus on improving their car rather than questioning the legality of McLaren’s dominant MCL39.

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online from the Japanese Grand Prix, appearing to show McLaren’s rear wing flexing under load.

The clip, which was widely shared on X – including a repost by Jos Verstappen – prompted the Dutchman to comment that “a lot of people see” that the flexing of the McLaren’s rear wing.

The footage and surrounding speculation have added fuel to ongoing claims from Red Bull that McLaren might be pushing the limits of the technical regulations in an area that has become a veritable battleground for F1 teams, and which the FIA is desperately trying to police.

Team principal Christian Horner even hinted that a clampdown on flexi-wings by the governing body, set for July’s Spanish Grand Prix, could shake up the competitive order.

But Norris, who currently leads the drivers' championship by a single point, isn’t having it.

‘Do a Better Job Rather Than Keep Complaining’

Speaking ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, the McLaren defended his team and its car, while calling out Red Bull for shifting focus away from their own performance.

“We're all fully within the rules. We're doing a good job. Red Bull have had plenty of time to do the same thing as us and they're not," Norris told the media.

"It is more that they should do a better job rather than keep complaining about things."

The 24-year-old, who has played a key role in McLaren’s resurgence in 2024, made it clear that the Woking squad has nothing to hide.

"We respect the FIA doing what they're doing and we're happy that they keep trying to correct things because we don't want anyone outside of those rules, but the last ones didn't affect us.

"I don't know if the new ones will or not but there are plenty of things that Red Bull do that also push the limits just as much. So we can also play that game, but we focus on ourselves rather than complaining about others."

'They Have Absolutely No Idea'

Norris also dismissed the viral video that triggered the debate as pure speculation.

"How do they know it's the rear wing that's flexing?" he asked. "They don't, it could be the whole car. So people can just come up with what they want but really they have absolutely no idea."

• Read also: Piastri dismisses Horner’s Barcelona flexi-wing warning

With tensions rising between the two top teams, Norris’ comments mark a clear shift in tone — signaling that McLaren is not only ready to challenge Red Bull on track but also stand their ground in the paddock politics.

As the season heats up, the rivalry is now as fierce in the garages as it is on the grid.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook