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The British racing team along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle involving Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without resorting to team orders as the title run-in kicks off at the COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in in their favor.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

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