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The British racing team along with Formula One could do with anything decisive in the title fight between Lando Norris & Piastri being decided on the track rather than without resorting to team orders as the title run-in begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you should not be in Formula One,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to pass which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague as he went through. That itself stemmed from him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now includes misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase further. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. 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, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places in Italy due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair 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 mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.