🔗 Share this article

The British racing team and F1 would benefit from anything decisive during this title fight involving Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved on the track rather than without reference to the pit wall as the title run-in kicks off at the COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous grand prix weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside through an opening then you should not be in Formula One,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake that led to the cars colliding.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there you are no longer a racing driver” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost beat him through the first corner while Norris attempted 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 made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident stemmed from him clipping the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the position he gained. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that during disputes of contention, both will promptly appeal the squad to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach to a situation where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate 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 as a track duel rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They clinched their tenth team championship in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

Yet having drivers competing for the title appealing to the team for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the team to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it risks possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy 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 shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that fairness attempts had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri responded that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

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

Six races stay. The team has minimal room for error to do their cramming, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.