Lando Norris’s impressive charge for the 2024 F1 championship took a controversial twist at the Singapore Grand Prix as Daniel Ricciardo’s late fastest lap denied Norris a crucial point, sparking outrage from McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. With Norris trailing Max Verstappen by 52 points in the drivers’ standings, every point counts in this intense title battle, and Ricciardo’s last-minute dash to snatch the fastest lap has raised questions about sportsmanship and fair play.
Ricciardo, who shares a close relationship with Verstappen from their days as Red Bull teammates, now races for Visa Cash App RB, a sister team to Red Bull. His fastest lap at Marina Bay, seemingly in support of Verstappen’s championship fight, has infuriated McLaren. Stella described Ricciardo’s move as “peculiar” and suggested it gave an “unfair advantage” to the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull squad, calling for the issue to be addressed by the sport’s governing bodies.
Stella didn’t hold back on his frustration: “A fantastic evening here in Singapore with a dominant victory for Lando, and Oscar managing to recover a couple of positions and finishing in P3. Achieving back-to-back victories is another milestone for us, but the fastest lap taken away by a sister team to Red Bull is not in the spirit of fair competition.”
Norris’s flawless performance saw him dominate the Singapore Grand Prix, securing a 20-second win over Verstappen. However, Ricciardo’s move could be pivotal as the season nears its conclusion, potentially becoming the decisive factor that separates Norris and Verstappen in the championship standings.
McLaren, on a relentless charge since the Canadian Grand Prix, has seen a resurgence this season, with Norris and rookie Oscar Piastri consistently delivering strong results. The team has clinched consecutive victories for the first time since 2012, cementing their status as serious contenders. As the constructors’ championship swings in favor of McLaren, they now turn their focus on supporting Norris in his bid to dethrone Verstappen and claim his first F1 world title.
With six races to go, the tension is mounting, and McLaren is determined not to let any advantage slip through their fingers. As Formula 1 heads into its final stretch, all eyes will be on the fierce rivalry between Norris and Verstappen—where every point, and every fastest lap, could be the difference between glory and heartbreak.
