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McLaren and F1 could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle 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.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment 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,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go for a gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” defence he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent to allow Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague as he went through. This incident was a result of him touching the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, 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 one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially for the championship, 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 with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity versus team management

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed 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 by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but noted it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and step back from the conflict.