As the Formula 1 season approaches its final stages, tensions on the track are at their highest. At the Austin Grand Prix, the Red Bull team found itself at the center of a scandal involving an attempt to interfere with a rival’s preparations.
A Red Bull staff member entered the starting area, where Lando Norris’s McLaren was located. There, he tried to remove a special tape that the British driver uses for precise positioning on the grid. This marker, placed on the wall next to the starting spot, helps the driver halt the car accurately before the race begins, as it is difficult to orient himself by the lines on the asphalt from the cockpit.
After investigating the incident, the stewards concluded that the actions of the Red Bull representative violated the regulations. The team was fined 50,000 euros, with half the amount suspended until the end of the season, provided there are no further similar incidents. The violation consisted in the Red Bull staff member ignoring marshals’ instructions and entering the restricted zone after the cars had already gone out for the formation lap.
McLaren has been using such visual cues since the beginning of the year, and the rules do not explicitly prohibit this method. However, attempts by other teams to remove these markers are also not regulated. According to British media, this is not the first time Red Bull has taken such steps against competitors, forcing McLaren to use more durable materials for their markers.
The judges emphasized that team members are not allowed to interfere with competitors’ preparations or breach safety regulations after the start zone has been cleared. Any actions that could hinder or delay race preparations are considered dangerous and may result in serious penalties.
Red Bull management attributed the incident to a misunderstanding, assuring that the team always strives to follow officials’ instructions. Nevertheless, the incident further highlighted the intense rivalry among championship leaders in the crucial weeks of the season.
