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McLaren along with F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight involving Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to team orders with the title run-in begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, 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 was a result of him clipping the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene in their favor.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers 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 is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” said 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 starts to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places in Italy due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.