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The British racing team and Formula One would benefit from anything decisive in the championship battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to team orders as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts internal strain

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he made against his team colleague during the pass. This incident was a result of him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.