Norris reacts to Ricciardo’s fastest lap after McLaren criticism

Lando Norris has asserted he has no issues with Daniel Ricciardo snatching the fastest lap at the end of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Norris was on course to take the extra point before Ricciardo pitted for fresh tyres en route to taking the fastest lap without the extra point as he finished outside the top 10.

The decision was questioned by McLaren CEO Zak Brown who has previously criticised the dual-team set-up of Red Bull and RB.

Ricciardo taking the fastest lap point away from Norris could prove crucial as the latter hunts down Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the lead in the drivers’ championship.

When asked what his reaction was to Ricciardo taking away the point, Norris told media including RacingNews365: “Well done, Daniel. I don’t know. 

“Nothing I can do – good on him. I did my best at trying to get a quicker lap when the tyres were in good condition in the middle [of the race]. 

“But I can’t have them all. I’ve done my best at trying to get quicker laps over the last few weekends and I’ve been able to get them more often than not. 

“But I can’t, on a hard tyre in the middle of a stint, beat a guy on a new soft. So that’s just life.”

Norris currently sits 52 points down on Verstappen with six rounds remaining – half of which are sprint race weekends.

With every point sitting as crucial for Norris in the title fight, the Briton insisted he has no concerns over Ricciardo’s late fastest lap.

“That’s how it’s been in Formula 1 for, I don’t know, probably since before I was born,” Norris added. 

“Nothing to complain about. There have been races in the past when other people have been racing. We try to take it away from others. 

“So, yes, the logical thing to do. The smart play by them. Happy for Daniel. That’s all.”