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McLaren and Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the title fight between Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to team orders as the title run-in begins at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you should not be in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the championship.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit 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 attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague as he went through. This incident stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene in their favor.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete one another and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their competition should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed 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 to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the conflict.