Red Bull Faces Fine After Attempting To Remove McLaren Tape During US Grand Prix

McLaren implemented a clever modification to the tape they use to help Lando Norris line up precisely on his starting grid position, making it harder to peel off. This change came after a Red Bull employee was fined for entering a restricted area while attempting to remove the tape at the United States Grand Prix Sprint race, a tactic Red Bull had been using at various events to counter McLaren’s strategy. The tape serves as a visual reference for Norris, aiding his race start, and McLaren enhanced it by cutting bits into the tape so any tampering would leave visible residue. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the ongoing "silly games" between the teams, emphasizing that while such tactics are part of F1 history, they may have gotten out of hand amidst the fierce championship battle. Sky Sports commentator David Croft criticized Red Bull's actions as petty and called for maturity, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the teams. Both teams' actions are within F1 sporting regulations, but the FIA remains vigilant to prevent further pre-race incidents.