Norris compared to Senna versus Piastri as Alain Prost? Not exactly, but McLaren needs to pray title is settled through racing

The British racing team along with Formula One would benefit from anything decisive during this title fight between Lando Norris and Piastri being decided through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall with the title run-in begins at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to internal strain

After the Marina Bay event’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous race weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel with the Australian, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s most famous sentiments did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature to those that defined Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you should not be in F1,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to overtake that led to their vehicles making contact.

The remark seemed to echo the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he gave to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka in 1990, securing him the championship.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

Although the attitude is similar, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate as he went through. This incident was a result of him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen in front of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal the squad to step in on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – which, under these auspices, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and racing incidents such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their opinion may diverge with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when their friendly rapport between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Toto 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 get interesting.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as a track duel instead of a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They secured their tenth team championship in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, rather than the sense that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Already, after the team made their drivers swap places in Italy because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and upcoming tests

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had acted correctly by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“We've had several challenging moments and we’ve spoken about various aspects,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.