Red Bull has been hit with a €50,000 fine, €25,000 of which is suspended for the remainder of the 2025 season, on condition that there is no breach of a similar nature.
A representative from the Milton Keynes outfit was summoned to the stewards after a team member re-entered the grid after the formation lap had begun. The stewards found that the team had breached 12.2.1.h and 12.2.1.i of the FIA International Sporting Code.
“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,” the statement from the stewards read.
“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.
“The team representative stated during the hearing that the team member informed him that he was not aware of the efforts of the marshals to stop him. However, the Stewards determine that any person affiliated to a team or other stakeholders should be aware that entering the track or hindering the safety measures to prepare the track for the race after the grid has been cleared is absolutely prohibited.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
“Thus, irrespective of whether or not the instructions of the relevant officials have been realised by the person concerned, hindering or delaying the process of closing the gates before the race start must be considered as an unsafe act and therefore a significant penalty to the team is warranted. In order to prevent any reoccurrence, a portion of the financial penalty is suspended.”
This comes after four-time champion Max Verstappen turned pole position into victory at the Circuit of The Americas.
This, in addition to the sprint race win he secured on Saturday, has closed the gap to the McLaren drivers in the standings. The Dutchman now sits just 40 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
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– The Autosport.com Team
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