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The British racing team along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall as the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to internal strain

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’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 their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him at turn one while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself stemmed from him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, both will promptly appeal the squad to step in in their favor.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and step back from the conflict.