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McLaren and F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Lando Norris and Piastri being decided on the track and without resorting to the pit wall with the title run-in kicks off at the COTA starting Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and tense debriefs dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap that exists you are no longer a true racer” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself stemmed from him touching the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. The team has minimal room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.