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The British racing team along with Formula One could do with anything decisive in the title fight involving Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without resorting to team orders as the title run-in kicks off at the COTA starting Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you should not be in F1,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with Alain Prost in Japan back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit remains comparable, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent to allow Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted 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 was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask the squad to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of 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 Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations 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 spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as 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 is taking appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They secured their tenth team championship in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that each contentious incident will be pored over by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the conflict.