RED BULL have been hit with a huge fine after being caught attempting to remove reference tape for McLaren rival Lando Norris at the Formula One US Grand Prix.
Before the start of Sunday’s race, won by Max Verstappen ahead of Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Red Bull attempted to deploy some dark arts tactics.
A member of the team attempted to remove some reference tape on the wall put there to help guide Norris, 25, into his box for the start procedure.
The British driver uses the tape in communication with his team to help guide him to the optimal position at the front of the grid box, with incorrect positioning on the grid often leading to penalties.
This tape tactic is used by a number of drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, due to the poor visibility of the driver when sat in an F1 car.
It is quite simply a piece of gaffer tape stuck on the wall next to the starting grid.
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While there is no rule against tampering with the tape – even if it may be considered unsportsmanlike – race officials did find offence to the Red Bull team member re-entering the grid after the formation lap had commenced.
The stewards report published by the FIA said: “A team member re-entered the gate well area at Gate 1 in proximity of the second grid position after the formation lap had commenced and at the moment the pit marshals started to close the gate.
“According to the report from the pit marshals the team member did not appear to react to their efforts to prevent him from entering the gate well area.”
A team representative told the stewards the team member was not aware of marshals’ attempts to stop them.
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However, the stewards judged that regardless of awareness, the “hindering or delaying the process of closing the gates before the race start must be considered as an unsafe act”.
Therefore, Red Bull were slapped with a fine of £43,400 following the race for the petty act.
Half of that fine was suspended on the basis the Milton Keynes outfit do not repeat the offence for the remainder of the season.
According to The Times, Red Bull have attempted to fiddle with the tape at previous races after it came to light a few weeks ago.
A video of the moment the Red Bull team member tried to tamper with the tape was shared with the stewards before a ruling was made.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said: “We went to see the video with the FIA.
“Sure, it’s something we can do better in the future, but certainly on our side we do not feel that we have ignored any instructions and we did not get any specific instructions.
“I think it’s very small things, but nonetheless something we will address in the future.”
Verstappen’s victory, his third in the last four races, helped close the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points.
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With Piastri finishing fourth, Norris also closed the gap on his team-mate to 14 points.
F1 heads south for the Mexican Grand Prix next.
