Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing performed exceptionally well during the Formula 1 weekend in Austin, Texas. The Dutchman won both the sprint race and the Grand Prix in Austin, reviving hopes of a fifth F1 world title, with Laurent Mekies watching his performance with admiration. However, after Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Red Bull Racing were heavily penalised.

Before the summer break, Red Bull seemed to have given up on their title dreams. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen himself admitted that the world title was out of reach, with McLaren’s dominant drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris leading the way. However, since the RB21 update, everything has changed. Verstappen has won in Monza, Baku and now Austin, significantly closing the gap to the McLarens. Since then, Red Bull has regained its confidence.

 

Mekies believes Verstappen can win the world title

Mekies ran out of superlatives after the race in America: “Max drove at an incredible level,” he told Sky Sports. “We probably have to admit that we’re witnessing something very special. He and the team made the turnaround possible.”

With five races remaining, it seems that the title fight is between Piastri, Norris and Verstappen. Within Red Bull, the focus is clear.

‘They know exactly what they have to do,” Mekies emphasised. “We’re a team that loves racing. We take risks, learn from every weekend and ensure we have the best car in Mexico again. The rest will follow.”

Meanwhile, Verstappen is closing in on the McLaren drivers. Piastri leads Norris by 14 points in the World Championship, while Verstappen trails by 40 points. The battle is far from over this season.

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Red Bull were penalised after the Austin race

Following Max Verstappen’s victory at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Red Bull Racing was fined €50,000 by the race stewards of Formula 1.

The penalty was not due to an infringement by Verstappen himself, but rather a procedural breach by a team member shortly before the race began. Of the total amount, 25,000 euros were suspended for the remainder of the 2025 season, provided that the team avoids any further violations.

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A breach before the start

According to the stewards’ official report, a Red Bull employee entered a restricted zone known as Gate 1 near the second starting position after the formation lap had begun. At this point, marshals are instructed to close access to ensure safety and maintain order before the race starts. Despite being told to stop, the team member continued into the area, leading to a subsequent investigation and fine.

The stewards emphasised that access to the grid is strictly controlled once the formation lap begins.

This is to prevent any interference with the cars, equipment or markings that could affect the start procedure. Red Bull’s actions breached this protocol, resulting in a financial penalty rather than a sporting one; therefore, Verstappen’s win and the team’s race result were not impacted.

 

Alleged attempt to alter grid markings

Reports suggest that the incident involved more than just entering a restricted zone. According to the BBC, a Red Bull employee allegedly attempted to remove a piece of tape marking the grid slot of McLaren’s Lando Norris. This tape is used as part of the race setup to indicate where each driver must line up. While seemingly minor, this act can be interpreted as interference with official race preparations.

Norris had qualified second for the race, starting alongside Verstappen on the front row. The McLaren driver has been a consistent contender throughout the season, currently sitting in second place in the Drivers’ Championship, behind his teammate Oscar Piastri and just ahead of Verstappen. Altering or tampering with his starting position marker, even inadvertently, would be viewed as a serious breach of protocol given the precision required in Formula 1 operations.

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There have been repeated concerns over similar incidents

The BBC also cited an anonymous source suggesting that this was not the first time Red Bull had been linked to such actions. While no specific examples were given, this adds context to why the stewards treated the Austin infraction so seriously. Formula 1’s grid setup procedures are standardised, and teams are expected to respect the visual and physical markers that determine starting alignment.

Despite the use of removable tape to mark grid positions, the locations are also colour-coded on the asphalt to help teams and drivers clearly identify their slots. Any attempt to alter or remove markings, whether to improve visibility or for any other reason, can lead to confusion among marshals and teams, prompting strict enforcement by officials.

 

The stewards’ decision and reasoning

In issuing the fine, the stewards clarified that the offence was procedural rather than performance-related. The unauthorised presence of a team member in a closed area after the formation lap had started was sufficient to breach Article 12.2.1 of the International Sporting Code, which covers failure to follow official instructions and actions deemed to interfere with the orderly conduct of the event.

Red Bull accepted the decision and did not appeal the ruling. The partial suspension of the fine serves as a warning, allowing the team to continue the season under observation. Should a similar incident occur, the suspended portion of the penalty would be reactivated.

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Implications for Red Bull

While the fine is relatively modest for a top Formula 1 team, the timing and nature of the infringement draw attention to procedural discipline within the Red Bull garage. The team has faced intense scrutiny throughout recent seasons, not only for its on-track dominance, but also for its operational behaviour behind the scenes.

The Austin incident highlights just how tightly regulated Formula 1’s pre-race procedures have become. With thousands of personnel operating in restricted areas and a global audience watching, even minor breaches can lead to formal sanctions.

In practical terms, however, the penalty does not affect the championship standings. Verstappen’s Austin victory remains valid, and Red Bull retains the points earned. However, this episode serves as a reminder that compliance with every procedural rule, no matter how small, is crucial to maintaining the fairness and integrity of the sport.

Looking ahead, Red Bull will be under closer observation for the remainder of the season. The suspended portion of the fine effectively acts as a probationary measure, reinforcing the expectation that there will be no further breaches of pre-race protocols.

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MORE F1 NEWS – How the wheels came off McLaren’s title charge

Just five race weekends ago, Oscar Piastri was riding high and looked nailed on to claim the 2025 Formula One drivers’ championship. In fact after the Grand Prix in Zandvoort, The Australian driver was 104 points ahead of Max Verstappen and 34 points in front of his team mate Lando Norris.

Now with six Grand Prix remaining the picture looks very different. Verstappen has almost halved the gap to Piastri which stands at 55 points before the US Grand Prix, where the championship leader will start from a lowly sixth place. Further he is just 22 points behind Lando Norris who lines up alongside Verstappen on the front row of the grid in Austin, but Norris was 3/10ths behind the world champion after two runs in Q3, despite Verstappen failing to make the start/finish line in time to begin his second push lap in the session.

McLaren’s usual calm, collected leadership lost the plot yesterday when a turn one incident took out both of their cars at the start of the Sprint. Zak Brown reacted hastily calling it “amateur hour”, blaming Nico Hulkenberg for failing to utilise his years of experience.

 

McLaren management too quick to apportion blame

Andrea Stella refused to mention names, but insisted that “certain drivers” should have shown “more prudence”, something he repeated more than once in his frustration. Yet the replays clearly showed it was Oscar Piastri who caused the turn one chaos by his lack of experience when he practically stopped his car in turn one to attempt the cut back on his team mate.

Firstly the move was pointless give Norris had not run too deep and it would have left Piastri on the outside coming into the right hander of turn two. Secondly, there were always going to be cars on the Aussie’s inside given the high width of turn one at the Circuit of the Americas and his 180 degree steering lock manoeuvre left Hulkenmberg nowhere to go.

Zack Brown was later challenged over his initial views, admitting he couldn’t “put this one on Hulk.” Yet having punished Norris for his slight touch on his team mate in Singapore, questions will inevitably arise about how the team will now deal with Piastri. The mysterious “consequences” the team announced Lando would suffer on Saturday’s for the remainder of the…READ MORE ON THIS STORY