The 2024 F1 season has been nothing short of a nail-biter, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris locked in a fierce battle for the Drivers’ Championship. Verstappen, holding a 52-point lead over Norris after the Singapore GP, owes much of his advantage to an unexpected assist from his old teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.
Ricciardo’s last-minute strategy to steal the fastest lap point from Norris could prove crucial as the title race intensifies, reminding everyone that even a single point can decide a championship. In Formula 1’s storied history, five world titles have been clinched by just one point, and this latest twist at Marina Bay may have just kept Verstappen’s hopes for a fourth title alive.
As Norris stormed to victory in Singapore, he was poised to snatch the extra point for the fastest lap, threatening to cut Verstappen’s lead to 51 points. But Red Bull and Ricciardo had other plans. With just a few laps remaining, Ricciardo pitted for a fresh set of soft tires, gunning for the fastest lap to deny Norris the crucial point.
After the race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner informed Verstappen of Ricciardo’s heroics: “Your old pal Daniel picked up the fastest lap.” Verstappen’s response was simple but telling: “Thank you, Daniel!” The gratitude was clear; Ricciardo’s move had helped keep Verstappen’s championship lead more comfortable heading into the final stretch of the season.
Verstappen, who finished a distant second behind Norris, had been outclassed by his McLaren rival throughout the weekend. The Dutchman admitted that P2 was the best he could manage, given the superior pace of the MCL38. “I think that is pretty much my race, on myself. Do the best I could, manage my own race. On a weekend we knew we were going to struggle, P2 is a good achievement. But now we need to improve, and that’s what we’ll do,” Verstappen reflected.
For Ricciardo, his late-race gamble may go down as one of his final acts in F1, with rumors swirling about his potential departure from Red Bull. The Australian’s fastest lap could very well be a farewell gift to Verstappen, a poignant moment that might mark the end of Ricciardo’s storied career.
In a season where every point could dictate the final outcome, Ricciardo’s intervention may prove to be a defining moment in Verstappen’s quest for a fourth title. As the championship chase heats up, Verstappen knows that every second counts, and in Singapore, Ricciardo’s last-minute heroics gave him the boost he desperately needed.
