Norris and Verstappen laugh off tale of the tape at COTA

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen both laughed off the catalyst for a large fine Red Bull was given following the U.S. Grand Prix, ahead of this weekend’s race in Mexico City.

Red Bull was fined €50,000 ($58,000), with €25,000 ($29,000) suspended for the rest of the season, for one of its team personnel entering the area around a pit wall gate after the formation lap had started. It has since transpired the team member was trying to remove a sticker on the pit wall that was placed there by McLaren to try and help Norris position his car before the start of the race, which is not against the regulations.

“Good job by them,” Norris said. “Because they can. But it didn't matter – I didn't use the tape, so it was extra amusing, because I didn't need it. We just put it there in case. So it made it extra funny, because they got a penalty for it and I didn't even need it.

“They also tried to remove it and failed, because we made it special, so they couldn't take it off even. So it was just amusing – little side quests, I guess, for the teams to entertain themselves. But we were the ones laughing about it, I guess.

“I didn't use it at all, because I just used the line on the grid. I said I'd use it in case, in case I'm a bit to the right or something and you can't see the line. It's just a backup if I need it.

“I've used it for a little while and they tried to remove it already, I think in Monza and in a couple other places. So that's why we kind of made it like the F1 passes that you can never get off the [car] window ever, like that!

“So it was amusing to see them trying to take it off and then it not going to plan. So I'll continue to use it. Sometimes I'd never use it at all because it's almost too far away sometimes to do. But most, 95% of the races now I use the line on the grid. I think that's why it was even better.”

Verstappen said he has no problem with drivers having different ways of trying to see their grid slot, but that he also agreed with the core reason for Red Bull’s punishment.

“Well, you see, there's a yellow line, in the grid box – you look at that one!” Verstappen said. “So, you just park your car. It doesn't matter where you start, really. But some people have other practices and I get that.

“I guess in Austin it took a bit longer for whatever reason and the gate closed – if he was instructed or not in the right way to stay out of it, I think it's quite clear how they explained it [from] the stewards. So, I think that is quite understandable that you get fined for that.

“And it doesn't even have anything to do with the tape. You can't hold up the procedure of closing the gate.”