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McLaren along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall with the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined Senna's great rivalries.

“If you fault me for just going on the inside of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. That itself stemmed from him clipping the car driven by Verstappen ahead 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 verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and at what point their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when their friendly rapport among them may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes boss Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely 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 then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.