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McLaren along with F1 would benefit from any conclusive outcome during this championship battle involving Norris and Oscar Piastri getting resolved on the track and without reference to the pit wall as the championship finale kicks off at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath leads to team tensions

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. The British driver was likely fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “Should you stop attempting an available gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort that went unpenalised even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the car driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols of engagement and Norris should be instructed to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in in their favor.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents about what defines fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, strategy and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split from the team's stance. That is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where a few points will matter,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I suppose the elbows are going to come out further. 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 as a track duel rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from these events is not particularly rousing.

To be fair, McLaren are making appropriate choices for their interests with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity versus team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made for position swaps in Italy due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also looms.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but noted it's a developing process.

“We've had several difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he said post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just close the books and withdraw from the conflict.