Norris compared to Ayrton Senna versus Piastri likened to Prost? No, however the team needs to pray title gets decided on track

The British racing team along with F1 could do with any conclusive outcome in the title fight involving Lando Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action and without resorting to the pit wall as the title run-in begins at the COTA starting Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout leads to internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly more than aware of the historical context of his riposte toward his upset colleague at the last grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel with the Australian, his reference to one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes did not go unnoticed yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in Formula One,” stated Norris regarding his first-lap move to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase the Brazilian legend's “Should you stop attempting an available gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” justification he provided to the racing knight after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan back in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Parallel mindset yet distinct situations

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost beat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate that went unpenalised despite the minor contact he had with his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden under McLaren’s rules for racing and Norris should be instructed to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases of contention, each would quickly ask to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and fairness being examined

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines just or unjust – under these conditions, now includes bad luck, tactical calls and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there remains the issue of perception.

Most crucially for the championship, with six meetings remaining, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness and at what point 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’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” said Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then they’ll start to calculate and re-calculations and I guess aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to become thrilling.”

Viewer desires and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated as a track duel rather than a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Not least because in Formula One the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking appropriate choices for their interests and it has paid off. They secured their tenth team championship at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus team management

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their contest ought to be determined through racing. Chance and fate will play their part, but better to let them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be pored over by the squad to determine if they need to intervene and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it is in danger of possibly affecting outcomes that could be critical. Previously, 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 with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris won, the spectre of a fear of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that fairness attempts had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri said he believed they had, but noted it's a developing process.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal room for error for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.