If McLaren had a sister team they would of course never have done such a thing. Absolutely not.
Having Danny go out with a fastest lap is a valid excuse, if it even is an excuse. He’s a likeable dude and it’s not unthinkable they just wanted to send him off with something in the bag.
Oh yeah, I agree, it’s not a good excus. I guess I just find it a tiny bit silly that McLaren are even bringing this up. Yes, it’s a point taken away from Lando, a point that could end up mattering come end of season. But, it’s also just one point. If some other team had squeezed in a fastets lap it more than likely wouldn’t have been mentioned.
And, I really don’t find it completely implausible that Racing Bulls’ primary motivation was to send Ricciardo off with a fastest lap attached to his stats, although I’m sure they considered how it would be a nice gesture to RB, as well.