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McLaren along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Lando Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall with the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go for a gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him touching the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the place he had made. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity against squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

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

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.