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McLaren and Formula One would benefit from anything decisive during this title fight between Norris and Oscar Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall with the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a reset. Norris was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening 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 “If you no longer go an available gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the phrasing 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, 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 was a result of him clipping the Red Bull of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back 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.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and at what point their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy 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 of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

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 managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“We've had several challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the fray.