Lando Norris as Senna versus Oscar Piastri likened to Prost? Not exactly, however the team must hope title is settled through racing

McLaren and F1 could do with anything decisive in the championship battle between Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall with the championship finale begins at the Circuit of the Americas starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix aftermath prompts team tensions

With the Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. Norris was likely more than aware about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague during the previous grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's iconic battles.

“Should you criticize me for just going an inside move of a big gap then you don't belong in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to pass that led to the cars colliding.

His comment seemed to echo Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” defence he provided to the racing knight following his collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the title.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit remains comparable, the wording marks where parallels stop. The late champion confessed he had no intent of letting Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris attempted to make his pass cleanly at the Marina Bay circuit. In fact, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he made against his team colleague during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the car of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris gaining the place seemed unjust; the implication being their collision was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, each would quickly ask to the team to intervene in their favor.

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 strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents over what constitutes fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists as fair and at what point their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship among them may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It will reach to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That's when it begins to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for themselves with successful results. They secured 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 genuinely wants to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition should be decided on track. Chance and fate will play their part, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The examination will increase with every occurrence it is in danger of potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, following the team's decision for position swaps at Monza because Norris had endured a delayed stop and Piastri believing he was treated unfairly regarding tactics in Budapest, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to see a title endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he said after Singapore. “However finally it’s a learning process with the whole team.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.