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McLaren along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome during this title fight between Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided on the track rather than without resorting to team orders as the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting 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 appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists then you cease to be a true racer” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the wording marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that during disputes between them, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Team dynamics and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That 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 a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity versus team management

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

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 by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.