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The British racing team and F1 could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle between Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided on the track rather than without reference to team orders as the championship finale begins at the COTA starting Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he provided 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 phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes bad luck, tactical calls 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 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport among them could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided on track. 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 analyzed intensely by the team to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

Nobody desires to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.