Source: REUTERS/RULA ROHANA
[Saba Sports News] The Miami F1 Grand Prix featured a scene of fierce competition when Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, holding a water bottle labeled “tire water” during the first practice session was seen as a clever retaliation against Red Bull Racing. This move, full of sparks, immediately caused a sensation in the paddock. In response, Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, quickly retaliated: “If he needs a pick-me-up, we would be happy to give him a Red Bull.” Behind the verbal sparring between these two prestigious teams lies the increasingly intense battle for the championship this season. The controversy dates back to the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix when Red Bull reported McLaren to the FIA for allegedly adding water to cool their tires. Although the investigation ultimately cleared McLaren, Brown clearly remembered this incident. At this key moment in the Miami race—where McLaren drivers lead the driver standings and Oscar Piastri leads Max Verstappen by 12 points—Brown chose to complete the most elegant revenge against Red Bull with a $2 water bottle. Horner’s response may seem casual, but it hides sharpness. Recently, Red Bull Racing has been embroiled in technical troubles; the RB21 car performs worse than the smaller Red Bull cars in low-speed corners. As the “tire water” joke went viral on social media, Red Bull Racing faced not only race losses but also loss of ground in public opinion.