Norris as Ayrton Senna and Piastri likened to Prost? Not exactly, but the team needs to pray title is settled through racing

McLaren along with Formula One would benefit from any conclusive outcome in the championship battle involving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved on the track rather than without resorting to team orders with the title run-in begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“If you fault 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 their vehicles making contact.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” defence he provided to the racing knight after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake 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. That itself was a result of him touching the car of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; suggesting that 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 in any cases between them, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated 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 he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the conflict.