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The British racing team along with Formula One could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle between Lando Norris and Piastri getting resolved on the track rather than without resorting to team orders with the championship finale begins at the COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back 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 had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris attempted 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 team colleague as he went through. That itself was a result of him clipping the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain 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. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask the squad to intervene in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and strive 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 on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“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 the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as a track duel rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.