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McLaren along with Formula One would benefit from anything decisive in the championship battle between Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided on the track rather than without resorting to the pit wall as the championship finale kicks off this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad 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 grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists you are no longer a true racer” 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 but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his team colleague as he went through. This incident stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene in their favor.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes misfortune, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will play their part, 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 ascertain whether intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed over perceived 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’ve spoken about various aspects,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.