Zak Brown and Christian Horner made peace… in pajamas
Lando Norris was deprived of the fastest lap point on track in Singapore during Daniel Ricciardo's (Racing Bulls) last lap. An event that did not please the McLaren team. Zak Brown, CEO of the Papayas, shared a photo on his social networks, indicating that he had made peace with Christian Horner.
Sometimes you have to think outside the box to improve a situation. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, and Christian Horner, team principal at Red Bull, left Singapore on a tense note. Instead of discussing things directly in the paddock or through the media, which is often the case, the two leaders preferred to talk at over 8,000 meters in altitude, comfortably seated in first class, en route to Great Britain.
Comfortably, judging by their outfits: matching pajamas. One must believe that the dialogue was constructive since Zak Brown posted a photo accompanied by the caption: “Peace in F1 has been restored on the return flight (where is Netflix when we need it!) – but the battle will continue on the track. What an extraordinary sport! The quarrel did not last more than 24 hours and the two teams will be able to focus on an exciting end to the season.
McLaren complained of a Red Bull – Racing Bulls collusion.
If the hatchet of war is buried, it should not be that the titles (drivers or constructors) are played out by just one point at the end of the season. At the risk of bringing back this story: Daniel Ricciardo stopping two laps from the end to put on nearly new soft tires and setting the fastest lap in the race, depriving Lando Norris of a Grand Slam.
Read also: Disguised farewells, controversy over the quick round… The Ricciardo imbroglio in the Red Bull clan<
The McLaren counterpart to Horner, Andrea Stella, had reacted after the race: "I cannot justify the claim that the Racing Bulls set the fastest lap to support Red Bull. I find it a bit, how to say, strange. I didn't see that coming. We definitely need to look into this."
Daniel Ricciardo's race engineer, Frenchman Laurent Mekies, justified this time as a way for the Australian to bid farewell: « As it might have been Daniel's last race, we wanted to give him the chance to enjoy it and leave with the fastest lap ». Brown and Horner have discussed, and this controversy is forgotten.
A thrilling McLaren – Red Bull duel
The two teams will be able to calmly return to their respective bases, Woking for McLaren and Milton Keynes for Red Bull. They are preparing to engage in a fierce battle during the last six Grand Prix of the season. Red Bull, which lost the advantage in the constructors’ standings in Baku, saw its gap increase to 41 points in Singapore. While it will be difficult to reverse the trend, the Austrian team can be optimistic for Max Verstappen.
Find here: The F1 2024 drivers’ and constructors’ standings
The Dutchman found a welcome podium at the Marina Bay circuit. He maintains a 52-point lead over his runner-up, Lando Norris. The Briton holds his fate in his hands, but he will have to make almost no mistakes until the end of the season and hope that the reigning triple world champion, with his team, does not return to their former glory.
