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The British racing team along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this title fight involving Norris & Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale kicks off at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass that led to the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go an available gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague during the pass. That itself stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and impartiality being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss 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 starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

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

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity against squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and step back from the conflict.