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The British racing team along with F1 could do with anything decisive during this title fight between Norris and Piastri getting resolved on the track and without resorting to team orders with the championship finale kicks off at the COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a reset. Norris was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go an available gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost beat him at turn one while Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he made against his team colleague during the pass. That itself was a result of him clipping the Red Bull of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in in their favor.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, following the team's decision their drivers swap places in Italy due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. When asked if 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.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and step back from the conflict.