Mercedes driver, George Russell - Photo RacePictures.

Russell reacts to Red Bull's 'tape tinkering’ with McLaren

19:36, 24 Oct

Updated: 20:10, 24 Oct

bySamson Ero

George Russell joked that he would probably have done the same thing as the Red Bull staff member regarding the tape incident if he were in a similar situation at the United States Grand Prix.

"I would probably take it off as well.”

- George Russell

The Mercedes driver, during his media interaction at the Mexican Grand Prix, joked he might have done the same in such a situation, before stressing he doesn't think the Red Bull team needs such tactics to clinch victory.

“I don't know what the real truth is behind that story. I'm OCD, and if I saw a piece of duct tape on the side of a nicely spray-painted wall, I would probably take it off as well.”

“Maybe the mechanic is being totally innocent, I don't know. Maybe not, but I think they're experienced enough; they don't need gamesmanship to come out on top or to get the upper hand. Maybe I'm being too naive.”

The Red Bull team were fined €50,000 by the FIA in the aftermath of the US Grand Prix - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

The Red Bull Racing team were handed a €50,000 fine by the FIA after a member of the team had entered the area of Gate 1 after the formation lap had commenced.

The staff was reported to have tampered with the tape, which the McLaren team had set for Lando Norris to mark his grid box ahead of the start of the race.

Ex-McLaren mechanic reacts to Red Bull tape gate

Former McLaren mechanic Gary Anderson stated the tape-tinkering incident involving Red Bull is one act that has long existed in Formula 1.

The 74-year-old stated how surprised he was with the act, before recounting how it reminded him of a scenario involving Jos Verstappen during the 1994 German Grand Prix.

Red Bull Racing team principal, Laurent Mekies, on his part, labelled the incident as a misunderstanding within the team when asked about it following the race in COTA.