Norris as Ayrton Senna versus Piastri likened to Prost? Not exactly, however McLaren needs to pray championship gets decided through racing

The British racing team along with F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the championship battle involving Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved on the track rather than without reference to team orders as the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

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

The remark seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists then you cease to be a true racer” defence he gave to the racing knight after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. That itself was a result of him touching the car of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to return the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against squad control

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

No one wants to see a title constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.