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McLaren along with F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the championship battle between Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided on the track and without resorting to the pit wall as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. Norris 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 with the Australian, 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 the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside of a big gap then you should not be in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go for a gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with Alain Prost in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident stemmed from him touching the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask the squad to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts 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 an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the squad to determine if intervention is needed and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the conflict.