Is the Red Bull Tape Scandal Considered Cheating in Formula 1? | 2025 Mexican GP

The incident in short

During the formation lap at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix a small but noisy controversy erupted on the grid. A piece of gaffer tape placed on the pit wall by a McLaren mechanic — used by Lando Norris to line up his car for the start — became the centre of attention when a Red Bull crew member who had already left the track attempted to re-enter and remove that tape. The team was fined 50,000 euros, but the core question remains: was any actual cheating involved?

Why teams use gaffer tape on the pit wall

Teams have long used simple, practical marks on the pit wall to help drivers position their cars precisely on the grid. When cars are wheeled to their grid slots on trolleys they are lined up by technicians and then the driver gets in, takes his place and relies on visual references to be perfectly positioned at the lights.

The tape is nothing mystical. It is a tangible, visible point for a driver to aim at during that short, tense moment when the clutch and throttle have to marry perfectly with the lights. For some cars, especially those with unusual cockpit sightlines or when the driver sits slightly offset, a centimetre here or there can make a real difference. In a sport where thousandths of a second matter, a few centimetres blind spot can change the outcome.

What happened at Mexico City and why Red Bull were fined

The attempted re-entry to the track by a Red Bull mechanic is what drew the FIA sanction. The team was penalised not for taking the tape down but for the breach of procedures when someone who had left the track tried to get back onto it during the formation lap. That re-entry is the actionable offence under the sporting regulations — not the presence of the tape itself.

So was Red Bull cheating? No. The rules, as they stand, allow teams to place visual markers and they also prohibit unauthorised access to the track during formation and other protected periods. The fine reflects the latter. There is a clear distinction between an on-track rules breach and what many in the paddock called poor sportsmanship or, as one person put it, “a bit of shithousery.”

How much advantage does the tape give?

Some pundits made a lot of noise about the idea that removing that tape would materially alter a start. The reality is nuanced. Drivers are positioned precisely by their technicians on trolleys before the driver gets into the car. Then the tape is placed where the driver wants it; some drivers like an outside reference, others an inside point. Teams often have backup marks and procedures so a single removed sticker usually does not ruin a start.

I checked with McLaren contacts who confirmed that while attempts have been made to remove tape this season, the impact on the actual launch was negligible in the case in question. They even used a clever trick: they sometimes hide a small note under the sticker so if someone rips it off they know they have been tampered with. Another trick I was shown was to score the tape with a box cutter every few inches so any attempt to rip it down top-to-bottom requires removing it in sections. Practical, low-tech countermeasures like that are common.

Could the practice be outlawed?

The FIA is paying attention. After questions were raised at the circuit representatives confirmed the matter will be discussed at an upcoming meeting. The outcome could go several ways: rules might be clarified to prohibit the placing of tape on walls, prohibit tampering with another team’s markers, or tighten restrictions on personnel movement around formation laps. For now the practice is legal and commonplace, but that may change.

Grid markings: the curious case of two lines on the right

While on the subject of grid boxes there was a separate visual oddity I noticed. The right-hand side grid positions at this circuit have two yellow lines — one slightly longer than the other — while the left-hand side grid positions have a single line. I asked multiple people within the FIA and across teams but could not get a definitive explanation. It might be a local quirk, a resurfacing artifact, or something to do with marshal reference points, but it’s an interesting detail that I wanted to throw to readers: do you know why the right side differs from the left?

Broadcast drama: Sky Sports and customs trouble

TV crews sometimes get caught up in the logistics of moving heavy camera gear across borders. Sky Sports experienced that firsthand walking into Mexico City. Their equipment was detained by customs and they were initially told to pay a non-refundable charge of 15,000 US dollars. After several rounds of negotiation the charge was reduced to 9,000 and then finally brought to zero, allowing the equipment to be released without payment.

If that hadn’t happened it could have had a real impact on the telecast. Thankfully the dispute was resolved and the crew were able to retrieve their kit in time for the weekend’s coverage.

Paddock moments: masks, tacos and photographers’ snapshots

The paddock is often a lighter side of race weekends. There was talk of Mexican wrestling masks — a playful nod to local culture — and while none of the main drivers came out wearing them today, I did capture moments of drivers enjoying local food and the atmosphere. George Russell and Alex Albon were caught having fun making tacos, drawing a good crowd and some real laughs.

Pierre Gasly has, in the past, worn a mask and created a bit of a stir. There’s always room for a little levity, and small moments like this remind everyone that beyond the engineering and the rulebooks there is a human side to the paddock.

Gear that concerns teams: wearable cameras and Oakley glasses

Valtteri Bottas turned up wearing a pair of Oakley glasses that have caused a stir because guests wearing similar devices could potentially capture sensitive footage of car details from the garage. Teams are rightly cautious about any guest-owned devices that could film the back of a car or technical areas, because that imagery can be very useful to rivals. Security around who is allowed to film and where is tighter than it appears from the outside.

On a related note, I saw a vinyl patch being handed out in hospitality areas. It was being used to cover the Glenfiddich logo on a sponsorship board. Advertising alcohol during sport is regulated in some jurisdictions and teams take pains to comply with local rules. Simple patches over logos are a quick, practical solution when walking into a country with different rules on alcohol branding.

Drivers, family moments and absences

Gabriel Bortoleto, who is from São Paulo, was enjoying the hospitality deck and mentioned he will bring his grandmother to a race for the first time. Moments like that are special and a reminder of how races can be personal and communal events for drivers and their families.

On the subject of attendance, Sergio Perez was not present at the track this weekend. He is currently busy with commitments outside F1, and this will be the first Mexico City weekend in 10 years where he has not been on track. Fans will surely look forward to his return next season.

Crime at the circuits: the Austin watch thefts

Last weekend at the United States GP in Austin several high-value watches were stolen from well-off spectators. The alleged method involved a woman falling over to create a distraction. When victims offered to help the woman up, accomplices removed the watches. Austin police have arrested an organized group accused of these thefts, and at least two Richard Mille watches were recovered in connection with the investigation. It is an unfortunate reminder to be vigilant even at large sporting events.

Small paddock details: signage and garage art

Little touches in garages are always fun to spot. In the Red Bull garage a cactus wearing a sombrero — a piece of light-hearted art — was on display. On the pit lane signage above the track the Tag Heuer watch face had a distinctive yellow bezel that caught the eye today. Observations like these are part of what makes walking the paddock interesting: one moment it is about tyre compounds and downforce, the next you notice a quirky mascot or a fresh sign above pit lane.

What this all means for fans and teams

From a sporting perspective the tape episode is small but meaningful. It pits low-tech tactics and gamesmanship against formal regulations and safety procedures. The clarification the FIA will provide could change the landscape at future race starts. Whether rules evolve to outlaw the use of tape, to regulate personnel movement more strictly, or to criminalize tampering with another team’s markings remains to be seen.

For fans, it is a reminder that Formula 1 is a high-stakes ecosystem where tiny margins matter and every detail is worth protecting. It is also a reminder that there is a lighter, human side to the paddock full of cultural nods, family moments and the occasional practical joke.

Is removing someone else’s grid tape considered cheating?

Not technically. Removing a tape itself is not an automatic sporting offence under current rules, but interfering with another team’s property could be interpreted as unsporting behaviour. The actionable offence in the Mexican GP case was the mechanic re-entering the track during formation, which led to a fine.

Why do teams use tape on the pit wall for grid positioning?

Tape provides a visible reference for drivers during the short window when they complete their grid positioning. Cars are placed by technicians on trolleys and the tape serves as a point the driver lines up to ensure the car is in the optimal spot for the start. It is a simple but effective low-tech aid.

Could the FIA ban the use of tape or similar marks?

Yes. The FIA has indicated the matter will be discussed at an upcoming meeting. Potential outcomes include banning external markers, clarifying rules around tampering, or tightening regulations for personnel movement during formation laps. Until a change is published the practice remains allowed.

Did removing the tape affect Lando Norris’s start?

McLaren sources indicated that the attempt to remove the tape did not materially affect Norris’s start in the instance discussed. Teams usually have backup references and procedures to cope with such situations. However in other circumstances a centimetre or two could make a difference, so teams take the issue seriously.

Why were Sky Sports delayed at customs in Mexico City?

Their camera gear was initially held and a non-refundable charge of 15,000 US dollars was demanded by customs. Following negotiations the charge was reduced and eventually dropped, allowing the gear to be released without payment. Customs processes can sometimes hold up international broadcast equipment, which is why documentation like carnets is important.