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The British racing team along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided on the track and without reference to the pit wall with the title run-in begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. The British driver was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit 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 while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague during the pass. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in in their favor.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally 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 just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves and it has paid off. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and step back from the conflict.