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The British racing team along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided on the track and without resorting to team orders as the championship finale begins this weekend at COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists you are no longer a true racer” justification he provided to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague during the pass. This incident stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes between them, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and at what point their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin 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 as a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against team management

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.