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The British racing team along with F1 could do with anything decisive during this championship battle between Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action rather than without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in begins this weekend at COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses dealt with, McLaren is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely more than aware about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed but the incident which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists you are no longer a racing driver” defence he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to return 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 step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes misfortune, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

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 with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will probably be welcomed in the form of a track duel rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren are making the correct decisions for their interests and it has paid off. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they possess a moral and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity versus team management

However, with racers in a championship fight appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition should be decided through racing. Luck and destiny will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be pored over by the team to determine if intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The examination will intensify with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Already, after the team made for position swaps at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also looms.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed various aspects,” he said post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.