This year’s F1 Singapore Grand Prix was heading for being filed under ‘forgettable’ by many fans due to a rather processional event. However, a fastest lap from Daniel Ricciardo on the final lap of the race meant that it will be talked about for many more weeks, months and possibly years to come.
With race leader Lando Norris looking set to leave Singapore with 26 points, the Brit had to settle for 25 points after Ricciardo prevented Norris from holding onto the fastest lap on the final lap of Sunday’s Grand Prix. Norris is doing all he can to eat into 3-time F1 Drivers’ World Champion Max Verstappen’s lead has in the standings and every point matters.
Ricciardo effectively preventing Norris from the fastest lap bonus point now means Verstappen can finish second to Norris in all remaining Grands Prix and sprints regardless of fastest lap bonus points and still win the F1 Drivers’ Championship in 2024. Now, as far as a ‘what if…?’ scenario goes, that is quite something with 6 Grand Prix weekends still to come – but it is a statistic nonetheless.
As such, it was hardly surprising to hear that McLaren CEO Zak Brown plans to “ask questions” following speculation – denied by Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner – that the two Red Bull teams collaborated together to prevent Norris getting the bonus point.
Brown has questioned in the past the close relationship the two teams owned by the same Red Bull company have and he was at it again in Singapore.
“That’s a nice A / B team sporting thing that I didn’t think was allowed,” Brown replied when asked post-race about Ricciardo’s fastest lap. “But hey, that’s not the first time we’ve seen it, probably won’t be the last.”
With the headlines being written from such a soundbite, Brown was also asked if he would follow up on the issue further. His reply showed the matter was far from finished in his eyes.
“It’s something I’ve spoken about in the past and I think it illustrates that it does happen, because I think you wouldn’t have made that pit stop to go for that. It’s not going to get anyone a point, so I think it does illustrate the issue around that topic.” Brown said.
Ricciardo arguably elevated the popularity of Formula One due to his persona as presented through the Drive to Survive Netflix show. What that show brought to the sport was a new generation of fans. However, those who have followed F1 for some time would do well to remember the part Michael Schumacher played in Sebastian Vettel’s third F1 Drivers’ World Championship at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The F1 legend literally moved his car aside to give Vettel the easiest of passes during the race. A decisive moment in the final race of the season and one which helped Vettel claim the title with 281 points compared to his closest rival Fernando Alonso’s points haul of 278.
This is a reminder that in a sport with over 70 years of history there have always been moments of other drivers from other teams helping each other out.
Obviously, Ricciardo’s feat did not earn him a bonus point as he was running outside the top ten when he recorded the time. However, this was no normal F1 Grand Prix for Ricciardo as it is widely predicted that this could have been the much-loved Aussie’s last race in 2024 with RB before being replaced by Liam Lawson. As such the Perth native was going for the lap for himself, for his history and for what could be his swansong in the pinnacle of the motorsport.
RB team principal Laurent Mekies also explained in his post-race comments why RB opted to pit Ricciardo from 18th place and fit a new set of soft tyres to his car: “Given this may have been Daniel’s last race, we wanted to give him the chance to savour it and go out with the fastest lap.”
Clearly, the F1 fans were also feeling emotional as the Honey Badger claimed Driver of the Day with 20% of the public vote. Pretty impressive for a P18 finish. For this reason, the claims need to quieten down as this was Ricciardo’s moment, not a conspiracy but of course helping his friend Verstappen in this way would also bring him joy.
Elsewhere in the paddock, Red Bull even found an unlikely ally as Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff showed he was not bothered as to whether the move had been planned or not.
“I think you’ve got to play all strategies that you have. I don’t think it was a dirty play, not at all…it was within the regulations, the drivers weren’t unfair with each other. It’s just scored an extra point.” This was followed up with a journalist asking, ‘no big deal then?’ to which the conclusive comment on the matter from the man leading the silver arrows was “No big deal.”
So, if ‘no big deal’ then why do I claim that this final lap may be talked about for many more weeks, months and possibly years to come? It is because it could have been Ricciardo’s last in the sport…but no one knows for sure.
Ricciardo did so much for F1 both on and off the track and it is sad that he could not reveal to fans that it would be his last race for RB prior to the Grand Prix or that he possibly does not even know whether it is himself. Either way, there was no fan farewell from grandstands, no guard of honour from drivers, and certainly no donuts on track. That is a big deal and if Ricciardo does not return to an F1 cockpit the reason for this happening is the question that really needs to be the one being asked.
