Red Bull Fined €50,000 Following Austin Grid Controversy
AUSTIN, TX – October 20, 2025 – Red Bull Racing has been issued a €50,000 fine by motorsport officials following an incident during the pre-race preparations for the United states Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.The penalty stems from a team member’s unauthorized access to a restricted area of the pit lane and a subsequent dispute involving McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The incident, occurring as the formation lap commenced, initially involved a Red Bull team member entering the pit exit area (Gate 1) despite attempts by race marshals to prevent access. Officials reviewed statements from the team representative, reports from pit lane marshals, and video evidence before reaching their decision. According to the official ruling, the team member appeared unresponsive to marshals’ efforts to halt their entry. While the team representative claimed the member was unaware of the marshals’ attempts to stop him, the stewards levied the substantial fine.
However, the situation escalated beyond a simple breach of protocol. Sources reveal the incident involved the purposeful removal of a piece of tape strategically placed by the McLaren team. Lando Norris utilizes tape affixed to the pit wall as a visual reference point to ensure correct positioning on the starting grid. The Red Bull team member allegedly removed this tape, disrupting Norris’s established setup ahead of his second-place start behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
mclaren personnel reportedly witnessed the act and immediately reported it to race officials, triggering the further investigation that led to the €50,000 penalty for Red Bull. The incident underscores the intense competition and meticulous readiness characterizing Formula 1, where even seemingly minor disruptions can have significant consequences. The fine serves as a stark reminder of the strict regulations governing access to critical areas of the track and the importance of respecting competitor preparations.
