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McLaren along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the title fight between Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without reference to the pit wall with the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and tense debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize 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 their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the wording marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague during the pass. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to return 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 impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he felt the team had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser to just close the books and withdraw from the conflict.