Red Bull uses thermal cameras to investigate McLaren’s brake temperature advantage. Red Bull used thermal cameras during pit stops to study McLaren's brake drums.

The strength of McLaren, which has set the team apart since the start of the season, lies precisely in the thermal management of its brake drums and tyres — a detail that had already raised suspicions within Red Bull in 2024.

Since the Melbourne Grand Prix, it has become clear that McLaren MCL39’s key advantage is its ability to consistently keep the tyre compounds within their optimal operating window, ensuring flawless tyre management in any condition. In Melbourne, much discussion was sparked by images of McLaren’s new brake drums, which hide a technical solution that has caught the attention of the entire paddock due to the complexity of the concept. A well-designed brake duct allows for efficient cooling of the disc and caliper, which directly benefits the tyres as well.

Since the heat generated by the braking system disperses into the surrounding environment — and considering that the brake drums are in close contact with the tyres — it is essential to prevent temperatures from rising too much, as overheating can lead to tyre degradation and loss of grip.

This is precisely where McLaren seems to have an edge over its rivals: its thermal management across the entire wheel assembly allows for uniform heat distribution within the drum, avoiding temperature spikes. Furthermore, it appears that the British team uses materials like carbon in this area as well — a material with low thermal conductivity that helps maintain stable temperatures.

Red Bull analyzed McLaren’s brake drums using thermal cameras
Teams are allowed to use thermal cameras, which highlight surface temperatures and help engineers assess anomalies or evaluate cooling efficiency.

Red Bull made use of these cameras during pit stops, when the brake drums become visible while tyres are being changed. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull observed — thanks to these thermal images — that McLaren’s drums, particularly the rear ones, appeared more blue than those of their rivals, indicating lower temperatures.

Red Bull focused on the rear wheel assembly, where temperatures are typically higher, as the rear end of the car is generally under greater stress.
According to the Austrian team, the low temperatures recorded at the rear of the McLaren represented an anomaly, as they believe it’s impossible to achieve such values without breaching technical regulations.

The truth is that no one can know for sure, but a rules violation by McLaren seems unlikely. The team’s precise thermal control is the result of an extremely refined car package, and the complexity of the brake duct design is proof of this. McLaren’s engineers have simply pushed boundaries — and are now reaping the full rewards.