Norris as Ayrton Senna and Oscar Piastri as Alain Prost? No, however the team needs to pray championship gets decided on track

The British racing team along with Formula One could do with anything decisive in the championship battle between Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in begins at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense debriefs dealt with, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. Norris was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took 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 to defeat him through the first corner while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself stemmed from him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask the squad to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and at what point their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. 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 team to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.