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The British racing team and Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this title fight involving Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action rather than without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

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

His comment seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague as he went through. This incident stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that in any cases between them, both will promptly appeal the squad to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

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

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will likely be appreciated as a track duel instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places in Italy due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” 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 now to simply stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.