Red Bull has been fined after a team member re-entered a restricted area once the formation lap had begun at the United States Grand Prix, with the incident linked to the removal of a McLaren tape marker used by Lando Norris to line up on the grid. Officials penalised the team for ignoring marshals as the gate was being closed, labelling the action unsafe. Half of the 50,000 euro fine was suspended until year end if no further breaches occur. (Reuters)
The tape itself was not banned. That grey zone sparked a fresh round of garage brinkmanship, with multiple outlets reporting similar attempts in the past and paddock voices asking whether the practice should be formalised. Verstappen still won the race from pole, while Norris started on the front row and finished second, sharpening the title fight and the tension between the teams. (Sky Sports)
What actually happened and why it matters
Stewards said a Red Bull team member re-entered the gate well near Norris’s grid slot after the formation lap had started. Marshals were shutting the gate. The team member went in anyway, or did not react to attempts to stop him. That was deemed an unsafe act. The monetary penalty reflected the safety angle more than any sporting advantage gained. (Reuters)
The twist came from the target. McLaren had placed a small strip of tape on the inside pit wall to help Norris stop as far forward as allowed without crossing the grid box. Drivers are penalised for incorrect positioning, so teams seek legal visual cues. Several reports say Red Bull tried to pull the tape off, and that such removal attempts have happened before. The FIA has not outlawed the tape and McLaren is understood to have clearance to use it. Interfering with another team’s marker is not explicitly covered, which is why the sanction focused on the unsafe re-entry. (The Race)
A broader context is in play. Formation lap, grid access and start procedures are codified to the minute. Once the grid is cleared, only authorised personnel can remain in defined zones. That is where the breach landed. The technical legality of a removable marker does not override those safety rules. The episode exposes a regulatory seam between sporting conduct and safety enforcement. (fia.com)
How teams use grid markers and why the policy gap exists
Some drivers stop by feel. Others want a reference. The 2.7 metre wide grid box allows the car to edge forward until the front wheels are at the legal limit. A discreet mark on the wall or floor helps repeat that stop point, especially on sloped or crowned grids where sightlines vary. Norris and Hamilton have each used solutions to manage this. The practice is common and, until now, largely uncontroversial. (The Race)
Tape is cheap, quick and easy to remove after the start. It is also vulnerable to interference. Because it sits on the pit wall, it falls outside many equipment definitions. That is why the FIA has not drawn a hard line, and why enforcement defaulted to safety rules once the formation lap began. The result is a classic F1 grey area. Teams will probe it until the regulator clarifies what is allowed.
Five takeaways for teams, officials and fans
- The fine hinged on safety, not on the act of removing tape. Ignore marshals and you will be punished, regardless of intent. (Reuters)
- Expect the FIA to issue guidance on non-car grid markers. A short technical directive could end the ambiguity before the next race. (Sky Sports)
- McLaren will likely harden its process. Stronger adhesive, alternative markers or FIA-approved floor paint could appear. (Sports Mole)
- Rival teams may push for parity by using their own markers, or by requesting uniform, FIA-provided grid references for all. (Sky Sports)
- The title fight adds heat. Verstappen won in Austin, Norris scored big, and every start will now be scrutinised for micro gains. (Reuters)
What the key voices are saying
Sky’s analysis framed it as gamesmanship rather than outright cheating, stressing how common tape and other visual aids have become. That nuance matters for public trust and for sponsor optics. It also lowers the temperature around calls for harsher penalties. At the same time, media across Europe noted suggestions that similar tape removals have occurred before, which will push officials toward a clear stance. (Sky Sports)
Red Bull’s leadership said it was a misunderstanding and that the team believed instructions were followed. The stewards saw enough to sanction the unsafe entry, and that is the enduring precedent. Even if the sporting act sits in a grey zone, access rules after the grid is cleared do not. They are black and white. (The Guardian)
H3: US Grand Prix grid incident at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty | 50,000 euro fine, 25,000 suspended to year end | (Reuters) |
| Trigger | Team member re-entered gate well after formation lap began, marshals closing gate | (Reuters) |
| Alleged purpose | Remove McLaren tape marker used by Norris to align car | (Sky Sports) |
| Legality of tape | Not prohibited, widely used as a visual aid | (The Race) |
| Why sanction applied | Safety and failure to follow officials’ instructions, not the tape removal itself | (Reuters) |
| Race outcome | Verstappen won, Norris second | (Reuters) |
| Future steps | Likely FIA guidance on grid markers before the next rounds | (Sky Sports) |
What should change before the next race
FIA clarity. A two-line technical directive could require any non-car grid reference to be registered in advance, uniform across both sides of the grid and placed only by officials once the grid closes. That would stop rivals touching one another’s markers and remove any temptation to re-enter a gate area. It also keeps marshals in control, which is the core safety concern. (fia.com)
Team discipline. Sporting directors should brief mechanics with a simple rule: when the formation lap starts and marshals move to close, hands off the grid. Any late change request must go through the nearest official. Build that into pit wall checklists. A 30 second hesitation is better than an avoidable five figure fine and reputational harm. (Reuters)
H4: Competitive implications for starts and strategy
Grid alignment matters because a forward stop inside the legal limit shortens the run to turn one. At circuits with narrow first corners, a few centimetres can change track position and tyre life in the opening laps. In a close title battle, these are compound gains. Expect teams to invest in alternatives that cannot be removed on a whim, or to lobby for a standard FIA decal on the wall for every car. That way, all drivers get the same reference and no one benefits from interference. (The Race)
For viewers and partners, the message is balance. Formula 1 rewards ingenuity but draws hard lines around safety. Austin underlined both truths. The best outcome now is fast guidance that preserves legal driver aids and removes the need for rivals to police one another. The racing should decide the result, not a strip of tape and a dash through a closing gate. (Reuters)
Trending FAQ
What rule did Red Bull actually break?
They breached grid access and safety instructions by re-entering the gate area once the formation lap had begun and marshals were closing the gate. The penalty was grounded in safety, not in the tape’s legality. (Reuters)
Is using tape on the grid illegal?
No. Teams and drivers have used visual references for years. The FIA has not banned tape or similar aids, which is why discussion is now focused on creating clear, uniform guidance. (The Race)
Did removing the tape change the result?
There is no evidence it changed the race outcome. Verstappen won, Norris finished second. The sanction addressed the unsafe re-entry, not sporting advantage. (Reuters)
Will the FIA update the rules?
It is likely. Media and analysts expect a short directive to standardise or control grid markers so no team touches a rival’s reference point. (Sky Sports)
Has this kind of thing happened before?
Reports suggest previous attempts to remove tape markers, which adds pressure on officials to act. That history is part of why the story resonated in Austin. (Sports Mole)
Where can I read the underlying rules?
The 2025 Formula One Sporting Regulations set the procedures around formation laps, grid access and marshal authority. These documents explain why safety overrides any grey area around markers. (fia.com)
What should teams do at future starts to avoid trouble?
Register any marker with officials ahead of time once guidance is issued. Do not re-enter a closing gate area. If something looks wrong, escalate via the nearest marshal or the race director’s channel. (Reuters)
What did the paddock make of it?
Broadly, that it was gamesmanship that crossed a safety line. Pundits called for clarity rather than heavier punishment, since the tape is a common and fair aid when used transparently. (Sky Sports)
Bottom line
Austin showed how tiny details can trigger big consequences. Keep the visual aids. Remove the chaos. Let the light go green and the racing do the talking. (Reuters)
