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McLaren and F1 could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle involving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to team orders as the championship finale begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to the cars colliding.

His comment seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his team colleague during the pass. That itself was a result of him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask the squad to intervene on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness 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 – under these conditions, now includes misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and at what point their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against team management

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let 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 examination will intensify and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made for position swaps in Italy because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he felt the team had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and step back from the conflict.