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McLaren and F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided on the track and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale kicks off this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware 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, 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 just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and impartiality being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense 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 is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza 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 of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. The team has minimal room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.