🔗 Share this article

The British racing team and Formula One would benefit from anything decisive during this title fight involving Lando Norris and Piastri getting resolved on the track and without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in kicks off this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts team tensions

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 almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“If you fault me for just going on the inside of a big gap then you should not be in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

The remark appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he provided to the racing knight after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he had with his team colleague as he went through. That itself stemmed from him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was verboten under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask the squad to step in in their favor.

Squad management 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. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes team principal 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 become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and championship implications

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their competition ought to be determined through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it's educational with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just close the books and step back from the conflict.