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The British racing team and Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Lando Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in kicks off at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

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

His comment appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan back 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 never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident stemmed from him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal the squad to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and at what point their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. That is when their friendly rapport among them may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the squad to determine if intervention is needed 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, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but mentioned 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. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

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