P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ex-F1 technical director Gary Anderson says Red Bull’s tape interference is exactly the kind of inter-team skullduggery that’s been going on for decades
The news that a Red Bull Formula 1 team member tried to remove a tape strip on the pitwall as a marker for Lando Norris was surprising. Red Bull principal’s claim of a “misunderstanding” seemed unconvincing, considering the knowledge within the team. Instances like the Benetton pitlane fire and refuelling rig incident in 1994 raise suspicions about senior engineers’ awareness. Plausible deniability plays a role in such cases where proving senior involvement is challenging. Skulduggery in F1 pits has a history, from frequency scramblers to performance-related design tweaks. Preventing unsporting behaviors like blocking on tracks or late pit exits remains a challenge, with fines not being effective deterrents due to teams’ budgets.
