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The British racing team and F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle involving Lando Norris & Piastri being decided on the track rather than without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale begins at the COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate during the previous grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” 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 you are no longer a racing driver” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague during the pass. This incident was a result of him touching the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to return the place he had made. 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.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity 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 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 they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. The team has minimal wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and step back from the conflict.