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McLaren and F1 could do with anything decisive during this title fight involving Lando Norris and Piastri getting resolved on the track and without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale kicks off at the COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. The British driver was likely more than aware of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague as he went through. That itself was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden 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 between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists as fair and at what point their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess aggression will increase further. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Racing purity against team management

Yet having drivers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to see a title constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. The team has minimal room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and step back from the fray.