The Singapore GP was a straightforward race, with Lando Norris outpacing the world champion Max Verstappen with a 22-second lead. The McLaren team appeared unstoppable as both its racers finished on the podium. Moreover, Lando Norris successfully cut down Max Verstappen’s lead on the points table. The triple champion is 52-point ahead of the Papay crew driver. However, if the Briton wins all the remaining races, he would have a fair chance to win the WDC title.
Thus, Norris also aimed for the fastest-lap extra point to further solidify his chances. However, Verstappen’s friend Daniel Ricciardo clinched the extra point by putting his farewell race on the line. This proved to be his last race, but he assisted verstappen by stealing the extra point from Norris. Ricciardo was in VCARB, a Red Bull sister team. Therefore, this tactic has been criticized by the ex-Haas boss, claiming it to be an undue advantage for the Bulls.
Guenther Steiner Urges FIA To Ban Two Entries Under One Umbrella After ‘Suspicious’ Incident
Guenther Steiner recently shared his thoughts on the controversial issue of teams operating under the same ownership in Formula 1, specifically addressing Red Bull’s dual entry with their sister team. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner expressed concerns that such arrangements could lead to “suspicious” situations, especially when team orders are perceived to be in play between the two entities rather than within a single team.
He reflected on his own experience working with Red Bull when they purchased Minardi, a team that was struggling to survive in the sport. Steiner acknowledged that Red Bull’s investment helped F1 grow and brought stability to teams in need. However, as F1 has evolved, he believes that the current situation, where one entity owns multiple teams, may need to be revisited to avoid the perception of unfair advantages or manipulation.
Steiner pointed out that incidents like a surprise fastest lap set by a driver from Red Bull’s sister team might not have raised suspicion if the team had been independently owned. In his view, the fact that both teams are under the same ownership creates doubt, which could be eliminated if teams were independently operated. While Steiner is not advocating for an immediate or radical overhaul, he does suggest that in the future, F1 might need to consider measures to prevent one owner from controlling multiple teams. This would help avoid any potential conflicts of interest and maintain the sport’s integrity.
Will Red Bull Continue With The Two-Team Approach?
Guenther Steiner has acknowledged that it may be too late to implement any changes regarding team ownership in time for the next Concorde Agreement, which will govern Formula 1 from 2025 to 2030. Instead, he suggested that discussions on the issue should begin now to ensure a resolution can be put in place for the agreement that follows.
Steiner pointed out that Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, has been a strong advocate for addressing the issue. However, Steiner believes it’s unlikely that any changes will be made in time for the next commercial agreement, which starts in 2026. He proposed that the FIA and Formula 1 should begin working on a solution well in advance of the 2031 agreement.
According to Steiner, starting discussions just a year before the next agreement would be too late. Instead, he believes efforts should be initiated now to ensure a smooth transition and a clear framework for addressing the issue by the time the next commercial arrangement is put in place.