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The British racing team along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Lando Norris and Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without resorting to the pit wall as the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you should not be in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

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 at turn one whereas Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague as he went through. That itself was a result of him touching the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, 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 return the place he had made. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – 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, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess aggression will increase further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since for F1 the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity against squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, after the team made for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri responded that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

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

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.