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The British racing team along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action rather than without resorting to team orders as the championship finale begins this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. Norris was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

His comment appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague as he went through. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity against squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair were unequal. Questioned whether he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

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

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.