The problems raised by F1's surprise fastest lap controversy

Was F1’s surprising late Singapore Grand Prix controversy just a token farewell gesture OR an act of intentional manipulation by one team to help its master?
When Daniel Ricciardo made a late third pitstop in what may turn out to be his final race in F1, which was already a lost cause, it was widely interpreted as being done to try to aid Max Verstappen’s title defence.
But Ricciardo is NOT Verstappen’s direct team-mate - so if this was the RB team giving an assist to Red Bull Racing by denying McLaren’s Lando Norris the fastest bonus point, is that fair?

00:00 Ricciardo's Verstappen assist
03:08 Sporting ethics
05:15 The Red Bull problem
07:35 Just get rid of rubbish rule

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[Author-dad-veteran]

The fact that Ric’s team principle doesn’t know if he’ll be driving in the next race, tells you everything you need to know about influence.

[vaccarod]

The fact that other teams out of the points try to nick the fastest lap regularly makes this a nothing story

[jm]

Essentially, this is a larger controversy because the British media now holds Lando as their new Hamilton.

[arvind]

McLaren uses flexible wings : this is a very complicated topic that involves bending the laws of physics.
Lando misses out on fastest lap : Is this really ethical and within the sportsmanship? Is this a scandal?

[gregzz]

There isn't a problem. You're either the fastest or you're not.

[philippgtzb]

so when alonso does it in austria as 18th on the grid it‘s fine but when ric does it as 18th on the grid it‘s not fine because it‘s against a brit ggwp

[slaphead]

The only thing that's controversial is that this "fastest lap in the race" point exists. The fastest lap is already decided in qualifying. In the race the only thing that counts is the driver/car that comes first.

[johnjono]

Non-RB Team getting fastest lap: Wow! Great Job! 👏
RB getting fastest lap: How dare they!? Its unethical!!! 😡

[Commacal]

Only a controversy if it’s done against a British driver or team

[annamariaclaudia]

If Ricardo fastest lap had helped either Norris, Russell or Hamilton, the Brit press would call him a "hero"

[db]

Denying another team a point when you’re not going to score is always worthwhile for any team, regardless of who’s fighting who in either championship.

[cdeppracing]

Zac Brown taking away 7 points from Lando in Hungary is far more scandalous than Danny Ric taking 1 point off of him

[selder_]

Ricciardo could’ve done this as a last ditch effort to win favour, to genuinely just help Max (or to hurt Lando), or just for his own self satisfaction on his potential last outing.
It’s also not just a Redbull 2 team issue. Having customer teams and driver academies, or even just big and small teams, means there’s always someone who’s got incentives outside of their own team

[ddomdom]

Stroll tried to do exactly the same at Monza trying to take away the fastest lap point from Max, but no one talked about it just because he failed to get it done?
These are also not the first times drivers out of point took a late pit stop to try getting fastest lap for no benefit to their own team, and now it suddenly became a problem?
McLaren can blame themselves if Lando really loses the driver championship by 1 point, they handed multiple points from Lando to Oscar with their own calls.

[jerrycaidic]

IF Norris loses the WDC by a point, it won't be because Ricciardo "stole" the fastest lap. Let's not forget that HIS OWN TEAM took 7 points away fron him when they demanded that Norris give up the win in Hungary.

[AlexR_]

In Monaco (2018 or 2019) Ocon was a Mercedes academy driver, and he let Hamilton pass during the race. Toto just said "that's the way things are".... But well, Hamilton is British, and that didn't bother anyone of you 🙄

[theprospect]

I think in terms of the fastest lap dilemma adjusting the rules so that it specifically applies to who finishes in the top 10 with the fastest lap gets a bonus point.( if 11th gets the fastest lap it still goes to whoever set the fastest lap in the top 10)

[vladpresecan]

It is only controversial for Brits. All teams have done it in the last few years, but it is only a problem when Lando had something to lose

[AdamWebb]

a whole lot of drama about absolutely nothing.

[Roisinblacm]

If it helped a British driver instead of hurting him, British media wouldn't have a problem with it