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McLaren and F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this title fight between Norris and Piastri being decided through on-track action rather than without resorting to the pit wall with the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. The British driver was likely more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” justification he provided to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, 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 position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose aggression will increase further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity versus squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight appealing to the team for resolutions is unedifying. Their contest should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better now to simply stop analyzing and step back from the fray.