Employee removes tape: Spicy punishment against Red Bull

Red Bull Racing has been fined €50.000 following Max Verstappen's victory at the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix. However, this was not due to a violation by the world champion; rather, the race stewards punished a rule violation by a team member immediately before the start.

20 October 2025

From: dpa

According to a report by with the BBC The Red Bull employee is said to have tried to remove adhesive tape marking the starting position of Verstappen's rival Lando Norris.

The Briton, second in the World Championship behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, but ahead of Verstappen, had secured second place on the grid for the race in Austin. Citing an unidentified source, the with the BBCthat this isn't the first time Red Bull has done this. Despite the tape, the starting gates are color-coded on the asphalt.

Half of the sentence was suspended for the remainder of the season. According to the verdict, an employee "re-entered the Gate 1 area near the second starting position after the formation lap had already begun and at the time the marshals began to close the gate." Entry is no longer permitted at that point. The employee allegedly failed to respond to the marshals' efforts to prevent him.