Red Bull Racing has been fined €50,000 (£43,500) after one of its team members entered a restricted grid area to remove McLaren driver Lando Norris’ grid position tape marker before the start of the United States Grand Prix.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed that half of the fine is suspended for the remainder of the 2025 Formula 1 season, provided the incident is not repeated. Officials said the individual ignored marshal instructions while attempting to access the grid area after the formation lap had already begun.
According to the FIA, the breach was not due to the act of removing a rival’s tape marker—something not prohibited under F1 regulations—but rather because the Red Bull employee was in a location where access was no longer permitted.
The governing body stated that marshals had explicitly tried to prevent the individual from entering the “gate well area,” a restricted part of the grid during race preparations. Despite these warnings, the Red Bull team member proceeded, prompting an official review after the race.
A source told BBC Sport that this was not the first time Red Bull had attempted to remove a competitor’s tape, often targeting its closest rival on the grid. McLaren, aware of the practice, reportedly used stronger adhesive tape in Austin to prevent tampering—leading to the delay and subsequent breach.
The incident was initially reported by The Race and later verified by BBC Sport. The FIA’s ruling emphasized that Red Bull’s conduct constituted a procedural violation rather than an act of sabotage or sporting misconduct.
Lando Norris had qualified second on the grid behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, maintaining his position to finish runner-up in the race. Verstappen went on to claim victory at the Circuit of the Americas, extending his lead in the championship standings.
Red Bull has not issued an official statement regarding the fine, though team sources suggested the incident was a misunderstanding during pre-race preparations.
The FIA warned that any recurrence could result in harsher penalties, including potential grid or sporting sanctions. The decision underscores the governing body’s ongoing commitment to maintaining strict safety and procedural standards during race events.
While the episode did not influence the race outcome, it has sparked renewed scrutiny of grid access protocols and the measures teams employ to gain marginal advantages before lights out.
As the Formula 1 season continues, both Red Bull and McLaren are expected to be closely monitored to prevent similar controversies in future Grands Prix.
