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The British racing team and F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight between Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without reference to team orders as the title run-in begins at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware of the historical context regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for just going an inside move through an opening 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 seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “If you no longer go an available gap that exists then you cease to be a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; suggesting that their collision was forbidden by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to return the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because for F1 the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus team management

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Already, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he stated 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 close the books and withdraw from the fray.