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McLaren and Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle involving Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided on the track and without resorting to team orders with the title run-in begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to internal strain

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement 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 F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

His comment seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists you are no longer a true racer” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague during the pass. This incident was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask the squad to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“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 suppose aggression will increase further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team 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 potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps in Italy because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship 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 challenging moments and we discussed various aspects,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.