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McLaren and Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without resorting to the pit wall as the championship finale kicks off this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. Norris was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask the squad to intervene in their favor.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship among them 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 Toto 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.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of 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 appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their competition should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational 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 step back from the conflict.