🔗 Share this article

McLaren along with Formula One could do with any conclusive outcome in the title fight between Lando Norris and Piastri being decided on the track and without resorting to the pit wall as the championship finale begins at the COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to team tensions

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense debriefs concluded, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” defence he provided to the racing knight after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he had no intent to allow Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, notably, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, 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. Which is when the amicable relationship among them could eventually – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as an on-track confrontation instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title 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 truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the squad to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will intensify and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he felt the team had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several challenging moments and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and step back from the conflict.