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McLaren and F1 could do with anything decisive during this title fight involving Lando Norris & Piastri getting resolved on the track and without resorting to team orders as the championship finale begins this weekend at COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass 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 racing driver” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

While the spirit 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 execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal the squad to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Most crucially for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin 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 championship implications

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against team management

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, following the team's decision for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, 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 said after Singapore. “However finally it's educational with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.