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McLaren along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided on the track rather than without resorting to the pit wall as the title run-in 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 tense post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him clipping the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to return 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 intervene in their favor.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, 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 squad to determine if intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and step back from the fray.