McLaren wants review of Red Bull/RB relationship after Ricciardo’s ‘extraordinary’ fastest lap

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has called for an overhaul of the relationship between Red Bull and RB after Daniel Ricciardo’s “extraordinary” fastest lap at the Singapore Grand Prix took a point from race winner Lando Norris.

With McLaren dominating at Marina Bay, Norris was hoping to take eight points off the championship-leading Max Verstappen, having set the fastest time on lap 48.

However, that extra point was lost when Ricciardo, running at the back of the field in what was increasingly looking like his final race in Formula 1, pitted for a new set of soft tyres and on his final lap was almost half a second faster than Norris’ best.

Ricciardo receives no points for finishing outside the top 10, but with the McLaren now clearly the fastest car on the grid, anything can count as Norris looks to close the 52-point gap to Red Bull’s Verstappen in the final six rounds of the season.

Stella did not directly accuse Red Bull and its sister team of collusion in Singapore, but did say a longer-term conversation may be needed about the close ties between the two teams.

“This is a big thing. You know, once you bring up sportsmanship, I think you have to approach it with a sense of responsibility, I want to have that,” he said when asked about the call.

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“I don’t know the facts. I just saw that RB went for the fastest lap and they did it. But for me, here, when we talk about sportsmanship and stuff, I think… it would be out of place. So I think we just have to take it for granted.

“They got the fastest lap and perhaps as part of a longer-term conversation we need to get the sport into a position where teams at every stage – whether it’s trackside or on the factory side – behave completely autonomously because this is a constructors’ championship.

“This absolutely needs to be addressed. But at no point do I have elements to say that RB went for the fastest lap to support the Red Bull. I just find it a bit… how shall I say… strange. I didn’t see it coming.

“I was a bit surprised that RB Racing’s top priority in Singapore was to score the fastest lap of the race. I think we just have to work harder to make sure this (championship) doesn’t come down to one point.

“At the same time, I have so much sympathy, support and friendship with Daniel that I am just happy that he can add this fastest lap to his track record.”

Norris said the two teams made a “smart move” by securing the fastest lap time for former McLaren team-mate Ricciardo, admitting it was “the logical” thing to do.

Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner declined to comment on the situation, saying it was up to RB to explain the reasoning. However, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez indicated the team had considered letting him in to set the fastest time.

“I don’t know what happened there. I think the team talked about it…so I think in the end we decided to stay as it was decided. I think the team thought about it, but in the end it didn’t happen,” he concluded.

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble and Ronald Vording