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McLaren along with F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight involving Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to team orders as the championship finale begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. 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 was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that in any cases between them, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents about what defines fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto 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 title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity against squad control

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

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