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McLaren along with F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this title fight between Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale kicks off at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. The British driver was likely more than aware of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as an on-track confrontation instead of 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 themselves with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to ascertain whether intervention is needed and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, following the team's decision for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser to just close the books and step back from the fray.