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The British racing team and F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this title fight between Lando Norris and Piastri being decided through on-track action rather than without resorting to team orders as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren will be hoping 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. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost beat him at turn one while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness 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 – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come to a situation where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity versus team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to see a title constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

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

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.