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McLaren and Formula One could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle between Norris & Piastri getting resolved on the track rather than without reference to team orders as the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting on the inside of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself was a result of him clipping the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that their collision was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and at what point their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he felt the team had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.