Esapekka Lappi, the Finnish rally driver, achieved a sixth-place finish in the recent World Rally Championship event held in Sweden. However, Lappi revealed that his ranking could have potentially improved had he not decided to let his French teammate, Adrien Fourmaux, overtake him for fifth place. This decision highlights the strategic elements present in motorsports, where team dynamics often influence race outcomes.

Lappi clarified that his choice was not a direct order from Hyundai's management but was instead a decision made within the team context during discussions about the race. He stated that he felt it was fair to give Fourmaux a better outcome, emphasizing the importance of supporting teammates in the competition. As Lappi explained, he does not necessarily need the added points from fifth place, especially considering the overall goals of the team and his current position in the season.

Following Lappi, Thierry Neuville from Belgium finished seventh, but there was a considerable gap of nearly two minutes between them, attributed to Lappi's deliberate slowing down. This incident sheds light on the strategic considerations in rally racing, where collaboration and team tactics can outweigh personal competition, particularly in a tightly contested season where points are crucial.