Red Bull Fined for Tampering with Lando Norris's Grid Marker

Red Bull Racing received a €50,000 fine at the United States Grand Prix for a safety breach involving a team member who attempted to re-enter the grid after the formation lap had begun. The underlying reason for this violation, confirmed by multiple sources, was an attempt to remove a piece of duct tape placed on the pit wall by McLaren to assist Lando Norris in precisely positioning his car on the grid. While the act of removing the marker itself isn't against regulations, the infraction stemmed from failing to comply with marshals' instructions and breaching safety protocols for grid access.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights the intense competitive 'gamesmanship' prevalent in Formula 1, where teams exploit every possible advantage, even those on the edge of regulations. More critically, Red Bull's actions resulted in a significant safety breach by ignoring marshals and interfering with the process of clearing the grid before a race start. Such actions can have serious consequences for race safety and order.

The Details:

• The Incident: During the US Grand Prix, a Red Bull crew member tried to re-enter the grid via Gate 1, adjacent to Lando Norris's P2 grid spot, after the formation lap began and marshals were closing the gates.
• The Fine: Red Bull was issued a €50,000 fine, with €25,000 suspended for the remainder of the F1 season.
• The Purpose: Multiple sources confirmed to Motorsport.com that the team member's intention was to remove a vertical strip of duct tape from the pit wall. This marker was used by Lando Norris for precise car positioning, especially after his earlier positioning error at the Bahrain GP.
  • Driver Aid: Drivers often struggle with restricted visibility from the cockpit, making grid markings hard to see. Teams use external markers to aid precise placement.
• Regulations: While there are no specific rules against placing or removing such markers, the core offense was the failure to obey marshals' instructions and re-entering the cleared grid area, which is a significant safety violation.
• Red Bull's Defense: Team principal Laurent Mekies claimed a "misunderstanding," stating their personnel believed they had followed all instructions. However, stewards found the team member's actions to be an unsafe act.

Between the lines:

This isn't an isolated incident. Such 'gamesmanship' is common in F1, and it's understood that Red Bull has attempted to interfere with McLaren's positional markers before. The stewards' decision emphasizes that regardless of intent, hindering safety procedures or ignoring officials is unacceptable.

What's next:

The suspended portion of the fine serves as a clear warning to Red Bull and other teams to adhere strictly to safety protocols and officials' instructions. The FIA's firm stance indicates a zero-tolerance approach to actions that compromise safety or disrupt pre-race procedures. Teams will likely be more cautious in their attempts to gain competitive advantages that could border on safety breaches.