The Formula 1 season’s latest drama revved up in Sao Paulo, but this time it wasn’t on the track—it was under the tires. Red Bull Racing sparked a technical investigation after raising concerns that some F1 teams might be injecting water into tires to manipulate performance. However, Pirelli’s Director of Motorsport, Mario Isola, reports finding no clear evidence of such tactics.
Red Bull’s suspicions emerged as the Sao Paulo GP weekend unfolded, with rivals McLaren and Ferrari posing serious competition to Red Bull’s previously dominant race pace. Speculation swirled around potential foul play, with the theory that teams could be cooling tires by injecting water, causing Red Bull to ask the FIA to investigate.
But according to Isola, there’s been no smoking gun: “I cannot see anything strange from the data we have. I don’t have any evidence. It’s up to the FIA now to decide what to do.” Pirelli has pledged support if the FIA needs further assistance but notes that so far, the data seems clean. The FIA’s post-race inspections at Interlagos similarly found no breaches, as all grid tires met regulatory compliance.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner stayed tight-lipped on whether the team’s stronger pace in the Sao Paulo Sprint and GP could be connected to the FIA’s investigation, answering only with a reserved “No comment.” Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur, on the other hand, dismissed the theory, arguing that teams are generally focused on removing moisture rather than adding it to tires.
The supposed water injection method, while theoretically simple, comes with a major risk: higher tire pressures. Isola pointed out, “You have a valve—and you just put water inside. But the effect? You lose control of the pressure because vapor inside increases the tire’s pressure unpredictably.” This technique, if it even exists, could jeopardize tire stability and driver control—a gamble most teams would avoid, especially with strict regulatory oversight.
Back in Singapore, rumors surfaced when moisture was seen on Ferrari’s wheel rims, adding fuel to the fire. Yet, as Isola explains, FIA’s regulations on tires are clear-cut: any tampering with tire composition is strictly banned, including any attempt to add or alter gases inside the tires. According to Isola, Pirelli fills tires with dry air before handing them to teams, per regulations, ensuring no hidden advantages.
Despite the speculation, Pirelli and the FIA both insist on one thing: without clear evidence, there is no breach to address.
