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The British racing team and Formula One could do with anything decisive in the championship battle between Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall as the championship finale kicks off this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap that exists you are no longer a true racer” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he had no intent of letting Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague during the pass. That itself was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front 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 of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel 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 in setting precedents over what constitutes fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. That is when their friendly rapport among them may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.