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The British racing team and F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight involving Lando Norris and Piastri being decided on the track and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale kicks off at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined Senna's great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go an available gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing 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.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase further. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus team management

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

Nobody desires to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.