Stella: Ricciardo taking fastest lap peculiar

Norris beat Max Verstappen in Singapore on Sunday by over 20 seconds and was holding the fastest lap of the race until the final laps when VCARB, Red Bull Racing's junior team, pitted Ricciardo for Soft tyres to go and grab the fastest lap, something he duly delivered.

Since Ricciardo crossed the finish line in 18th place, he did not get the extra point for the fastest lap, as the rules state the driver should be within the points-scoring positions, but that meant Norris did not get it either, which meant he could not close the gap to Verstappen in the Formula 1 drivers' championship to less than 52 points.

In a season that seems to be heading towards a close conclusion in the title fight as Verstappen's lead keeps shrinking with Norris and McLaren on the attack, that extra point Norris lost out on may prove crucial at the end of the year.

While being careful not to point any fingers, Stella commented on VCARB's decision to go for the fastest lap given their relationship with Red Bull.

"This is a big matter," Stella said. "You know, as soon as you invoke the sportsmanship, I think you need to approach this with a sense of responsibility, that I want to have.

"I don't know the facts. I just saw that RB went for the fastest lap, and they achieved it. But for me here talk about sportsmanship and so on, I think is... it would be out of place. So I think we have to take it at face value.

"They scored the fastest lap, and potentially as part of a longer-term conversation, we need to put the sport in a position in which, at any stage - being it trackside or being it factory-side - teams behave in a totally autonomous manner, because this is a constructors' championship.

"This needs to be definitely addressed," the Italian insisted. "But at no point I have elements now to say RB went for the fastest lap to support the Red Bull. I just find it a little... how to say... peculiar. I did not see it coming.

"I was a little surprised that the highest priority of RB racing in Singapore was to go and score the fastest lap of the race. I think we just have to work harder to make sure that this [championship] doesn't come down to a point.

"At the same time, I have so much sympathy, support and friendship with Daniel that I'm just happy that he may add this fastest lap to his track record," Stella concluded.

While Red Bull boss Christian Horner refused to be dragged into this matter, Sergio Perez revealed the team were discussing the possibility of pitting him to try and go for the fastest lap.

The Mexican said: "I don’t know what happened there. I think the team was discussing it…so I think in the end we decided to stay as it was decided anyway. I think the team was thinking about it but in the end it didn’t happen."

Norris, the one who would be potentially the most affected by the matter, did not make any fuss, labeling the tactic a "smart move" and the "logical thing" for Red Bull and VCARB to do.