Racing Bulls Condemn Employee's Podium Gesture
Racing Bulls have distanced themselves from an incident involving a team employee who appeared to encourage the booing of Lando Norris following the McLaren driver's victory at the Brazil Grand Prix. The team released a statement confirming the matter has been dealt with internally.
Controversy at the Sao Paolo Podium
Footage that spread across social media showed a Racing Bulls team member making a thumbs-down gesture towards the crowd as Norris stood on the podium in Sao Paolo. The gesture coincided with audible boos directed at the championship leader, marking the second consecutive race where Norris has faced such a reception from sections of the crowd, following similar events at the Mexico Grand Prix.
Norris's win in Brazil was a dominant performance, allowing him to extend his lead in the drivers' championship to a formidable 24 points. Despite the on-track success, the post-race celebrations were marred by the negative fan reaction.
Team Response and Driver Reaction
In their statement released on Wednesday 12 November 2025, Racing Bulls were quick to address the viral video. "We’re aware of the video from the weekend’s podium," the team said. "It doesn’t reflect our team’s values or the spirit of VCARB. The matter has been handled internally."
The statement further emphasised the team's philosophy, adding, "We believe in celebrating great racing and showing respect to every driver, team, and fan both on and off the track."
Lando Norris, aged 25, addressed the booing directly. He adopted a philosophical stance, stating he would, "Just ignore everyone who talks crap about you! Focus on yourself, I’m pushing hard away from the track. It doesn’t come easy for sure - happy to come out with the win."
This echoed his reaction to the initial booing in Mexico, where he appeared perplexed but resilient. At the time, he suggested that the reaction might stem from perceived favouritism within McLaren towards him over his teammate and title rival, Oscar Piastri. Norris defended his team's conduct, referencing his decision to let Piastri win the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix as evidence of their fair approach.
