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McLaren and F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Lando Norris and Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to internal strain

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and tense debriefs dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” justification he gave to the racing knight after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent to allow Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.