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The British racing team along with Formula One could do with any conclusive outcome during this title fight involving Norris & Piastri being decided on the track rather than without reference to the pit wall as the championship finale kicks off this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go an available gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident stemmed from him touching the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, each would quickly ask the squad to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. That is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

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

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that each contentious incident will be pored over by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.