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The British racing team along with F1 could do with anything decisive during this title fight involving Lando Norris & Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without reference to the pit wall as the championship finale begins at the COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague during the pass. That itself stemmed from him clipping the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was forbidden by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed 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 under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences 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, each racer's view exists as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition should be decided on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply stop analyzing and step back from the fray.