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McLaren and Formula One would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight involving Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided on the track rather than without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses concluded, McLaren is aiming for a reset. Norris was likely more than aware of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal the squad to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against team management

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. 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 squad to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately 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 stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.