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The British racing team and Formula One could do with anything decisive during this title fight involving Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall as the championship finale kicks off at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for just going on the inside through an opening then you should not be in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka 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 to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask the squad to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – under these conditions, now includes misfortune, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two 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 among them may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

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

Racing purity against team management

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps 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 won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it's educational with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.