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The British racing team along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome during this title fight between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without reference to team orders with the title run-in begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you should not be in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident 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; suggesting that their collision was forbidden by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair 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 challenging moments and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he said after Singapore. “But ultimately it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the conflict.