F1 fans have blasted Red Bull after the heavyweight team was caught in an apparent act of ‘sabotage’ against McLaren before the US Grand Prix. But many more have questioned the bizarre methods of McLaren that led to the situation.
It was revealed after Max Verstappen’s win in Austin – which cut into the championship lead of Aussie driver Oscar Piastri – that Red Bull had been fined 50,000 euros (AU$89,000) for a pre-race breach involving one of their crew members.
Red Bull tried to remove tape that McLaren put near the starting grid as a marker for Lando Norris. Image: Getty
F1’s governing body the FIA took action against Red Bull after a crew member re-entered the track after the formation lap had already begun. Crew members aren’t allowed on the track after the cars have started the formation lap due to safety reasons.
Red Bull were hit with a 50,000 euro fine – half of which has been suspended for the rest of the season – after the staffer ignored warnings from officials not to re-enter the track. It was later revealed why the Red Bull staffer was so intent on gaining access to the restricted area, and it all centres around trying to get one over McLaren.
McLaren often put tape on the wall next to the track to show Lando Norris where he needs to stop. Image: The Race/BBC
Red Bull staffer tried to remove Lando Norris’ tape
F1 publication The Race revealed the Red Bull staffer tried to remove tape that McLaren places on the wall next to the track to show Norris where he needs to stop after the formation lap. Drivers are penalised if they go over the designated area on the starting grid, and Norris apparently needs extra help to show him where he needs to park his car before the race begins.
The BBC verified the report from The Race, and revealed it’s not the first time Red Bull have removed – or tried to remove – the tape. McLaren have reportedly resorted to using glue as well as the adhesive on the tape to stop Red Bull removing it.
Red Bull were fined for the crew member re-entering the track, rather than for removing the tape. There’s no rules around whether the tape can be used, or whether it’s illegal to remove it, but McLaren have reportedly been given permission by the F1 to use it.
F1 world reacts after Red Bull hit with $90,000 fine
FIA stewards said after a post-race hearing: “A team member re-entered the gate well area at Gate 1 in proximity of the second grid position after the formation lap had commenced, and at the moment the pit marshals started to close the gate. According to the report from the pit marshals, the team member did not appear to react to their efforts to prevent him from entering the gate well area.
“The team representative stated during the hearing that the team member informed him that he was not aware of the efforts of the marshals to stop him. However, the stewards determine that any person affiliated to a team or other stakeholders should be aware that entering the track or hindering the safety measures to prepare the track for the race after the grid has been cleared is absolutely prohibited.
“Thus, irrespective of whether or not the instructions of the relevant officials have been realised by the person concerned, hindering or delaying the process of closing the gates before the race start must be considered as an unsafe act and therefore a significant penalty to the team is warranted. In order to prevent any reoccurrence, a portion of the financial penalty is suspended.”
In the aftermath, plenty of F1 fans blasted Red Bull for the apparent act of ‘sabotage’. But many more were left questioning why Norris needs extra help positioning his McLaren before the race commences.