Lando Norris as Senna and Oscar Piastri as Prost? No, however the team needs to pray championship is settled through racing

McLaren and F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the championship battle involving Norris & Oscar Piastri being decided on the track and without resorting to team orders as the championship finale kicks off at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and tense post-race analyses concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. Norris was almost certainly more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” 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 for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris did try to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to return the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene in their favor.

Squad management and impartiality under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes bad luck, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when their friendly rapport among them may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

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

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of a track duel instead of a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because for F1 the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their competition should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will increase 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 feeling he was treated unfairly regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and step back from the conflict.