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McLaren and Formula One could do with anything decisive in the title fight involving Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved on the track and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent to allow Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him clipping the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, 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 of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their perspectives might split 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 minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against team management

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires 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 mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.