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The British racing team and F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Norris and Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to team orders with the title run-in kicks off this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he gave to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost beat him at turn one while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague during the pass. That itself stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to return the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes between them, both will promptly appeal the squad 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 against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

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 may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Singapore. “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 become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

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

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished 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.

Sporting integrity against squad control

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that each contentious incident will be pored over by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad 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’ve spoken about various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser to just close the books and withdraw from the conflict.