Horner reacts to ‘tyre water’ jibe as McLaren pace prompts scrutiny

Christian Horner has addressed the cheeky stunt pulled by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who brought a water bottle labeled “tyre water” to the pit wall during the Miami Grand Prix – a light-hearted dig at Red Bull’s growing curiosity over McLaren’s exceptional tyre management.

The joke referenced swirling paddock speculation that McLaren may be cooling their tyres in unconventional ways, with Red Bull among those trying to understand the source of the Woking based outfit’s superior long-run pace.

In Miami last weekend, McLaren were visibly dominant, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris able to sustain searing pace in hot conditions while showing minimal tyre wear.

Horner wasn’t amused by the jab but acknowledged the situation was par for the course at the front of the grid.

“Of course, in F1, there are always going to be questions that are raised,” Horner told the media. “They did exactly the same about the front suspension on our car last year.

“So it’s inevitable when you’re running at the front as we have for the last quite a few years, you always come under more scrutiny.”

Horner added: “So that’s part and parcel of F1. And in many respects, for the FIA, the teams, all of the teams, do the vast majority of the work, because, of course, their resource is far greater, and there’s always a competitor analysis going on across all of the teams.”

The McLaren Mystery

Horner was quick to admit that McLaren are currently the benchmark, especially when it comes to how they manage tyre wear through a Grand Prix distance.

The team’s form in Miami, particularly on the medium compound, raised eyebrows for its blend of pace and consistency.

“Obviously, McLaren is the standout car,” Horner noted. “They had the kind of advantage that we saw a couple of years ago, and they’re obviously doing a very good job in managing temperatures and, particularly, I think if you look at the end of the medium tyre stint, that was probably where they were the most competitive.”

Red Bull’s own struggles in Miami were exacerbated by brake issues, but Horner believes McLaren’s efficiency can’t be dismissed.

“That’s what we need to focus on,” he said. “I think we had brake issues that have compounded the problem in the race, but that’s what we need to understand.”

While the sport prepares for sweeping rule changes in 2026, Red Bull remains eager to decode McLaren’s current edge and regain control of the championship narrative.

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