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McLaren along with Formula One could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle involving Norris and Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without resorting to team orders as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense post-race analyses concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was likely more than aware of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate during the previous grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost beat him at turn one while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague as he went through. That itself was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics 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 maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I guess aggression will increase further. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity against squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition should be decided on track. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

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

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.