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The British racing team and F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this title fight involving Norris and Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without reference to the pit wall with the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts internal strain

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte to his aggrieved teammate during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments was lost on no one but the incident 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 their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to the racing knight after he ploughed into Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

While the spirit remains comparable, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost beat him at turn one while Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate as he went through. That itself stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that their collision was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to allow their racers compete against each other and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists as fair and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when their friendly rapport among them may – finally – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

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

Audience expectations and title consequences

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

To be fair, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus team management

However, with racers competing for the title appealing to the team to decide matters is unedifying. Their contest should be decided on track. Chance and fate 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 squad to ascertain whether intervention is needed and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that fairness attempts were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we’ve spoken about a number of things,” he stated post-race. “But ultimately 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 now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.