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McLaren along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle involving Lando Norris & Piastri being decided on the track and without reference to team orders as the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the championship.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague as he went through. That itself stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition should be decided on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made for position swaps in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the conflict.