McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown plans to address concerns regarding the implications of B-teams in Formula 1 following Lando Norris’s loss of a crucial bonus point for fastest lap to Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull’s junior team, RB. This incident occurred during what many believe to be Ricciardo’s final race with the team.
In a strategic move, the team instructed Ricciardo, who was running in 18th place, to pit for soft tires just three laps from the end of the race. Although he was not in a position to earn the bonus point himself, his faster lap time surpassed Norris’s, consequently denying the McLaren driver the opportunity to gain ground on championship leader Max Verstappen.
Norris’s missed point carries significant consequences as he strives to close the gap on Verstappen. This situation now allows Verstappen the potential to clinch the title by finishing second to Norris in the remaining races—a scenario that was previously less likely.
RB team principal Laurent Mekies explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, “We wanted to give Daniel the opportunity to set the fastest lap because this may have been his last race.” Ricciardo himself acknowledged his motivation, saying he did it “with a little bit of Red Bull in mind” and aimed “just to have one last crack at doing a fast one.”
However, Brown expressed skepticism regarding the tactics employed, labeling the incident as a concerning aspect of the A/B-team dynamic. “That’s a nice A/B-team sporting thing that I didn’t think was allowed,” he told SiriusXM. “But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen it, and it probably won’t be the last.”
He indicated that he would “certainly ask some questions” about the incident, emphasizing that it exemplifies a recurring issue within the sport. “It illustrates that this kind of thing happens. I doubt they would have made that pit stop if it didn’t serve some strategic purpose,” he noted, highlighting that it didn’t yield any points for Ricciardo.
Brown has previously voiced concerns over the integrity of B-team arrangements, dating back to 2018, when he urged F1’s owner, Liberty Media, to implement changes “for the health of the sport.”
As the season progresses, Brown’s comments may reignite the debate over the role of B-teams in Formula 1, raising important questions about fairness and competition in the sport.
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