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The British racing team along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this championship battle between Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without resorting to team orders as the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, 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 clipping the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

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

Audience expectations and championship implications

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and step back from the conflict.