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The British racing team along with F1 could do with anything decisive in the title fight involving Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved on the track rather than without reference to team orders as the title run-in begins at the COTA starting Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. The British driver was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside of a big gap then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to the cars colliding.

His comment seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost beat him at turn one while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident stemmed from him clipping the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity versus team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, after the team made for position swaps at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

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 managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.