McLaren questions Red Bull-RB ties after Ricciardo's fastest lap

The relationship between Red Bull and its sister team RB has come under scrutiny following Daniel Ricciardo's unexpected fastest lap at the Singapore Grand Prix, which deprived race winner Lando Norris of a crucial championship point.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has raised concerns about the autonomy of Formula 1 teams.

This follows Ricciardo, running at the back of the field, pitting for fresh soft tyres and setting a time nearly half a second quicker than Norris' previous best on the final lap.

Controversial pit stop strategy

The incident has sparked debate about the closeness of Red Bull and RB, with Stella calling for a broader discussion on team relationships within the sport.

While stopping short of directly accusing the teams of collusion, Stella emphasized the need for autonomous behavior among constructors.

"This is a big matter,"

Stella stated.

"As soon as you invoke sportsmanship, I think you need to approach this with a sense of responsibility."

He added,

"We need to put the sport in a position in which, at any stage - being it trackside or being it factory-side - teams behave in a totally autonomous manner, because this is a constructors' championship."

Championship implications

With McLaren emerging as the fastest car on the grid, every point could prove crucial in Norris' bid to close the gap to championship leader Max Verstappen.

The lost point from Singapore leaves Norris 52 points adrift with six races remaining.

Stella expressed surprise at RB's priorities during the race, saying,

"I was a little surprised that the highest priority of RB racing in Singapore was to go and score the fastest lap of the race."

He urged his team to work harder to ensure the championship doesn't come down to a single point.

Mixed reactions

Norris, for his part, took a diplomatic stance, describing the move as a "smart play" and the "logical thing" for Red Bull and RB to do.

The British driver's gracious response highlights the complex dynamics at play in Formula 1's competitive landscape.

Red Bull's perspective

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remained tight-lipped about the situation, deferring to RB for explanations.

However, Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, revealed that Red Bull had considered pitting him for a fastest lap attempt, suggesting a coordinated strategy between the two teams.

"I think the team was discussing it,"

Perez disclosed.

"I think in the end we decided to stay as it was decided anyway."