🔗 Share this article

McLaren along with F1 could do with anything decisive during this title fight between Norris and Piastri getting resolved through on-track action and without reference to the pit wall with the title run-in begins this weekend at Circuit of the Americas on Friday.

Marina Bay race aftermath prompts 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. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense title fight against Piastri, his reference to a famous Senna well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment differed completely from incidents characterizing 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 of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo Senna’s “Should you stop attempting for a gap that exists then you cease to be a racing driver” justification he provided to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit yet distinct situations

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he never intended of letting Prost beat him at turn one whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he had with his team colleague during the pass. That itself stemmed from him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen ahead of him.

The Australian responded angrily and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; the implication being the two teammates clashing was verboten under McLaren’s rules of engagement and Norris ought to be told to return the position he gained. The team refused, but it was indicative that in any cases of contention, both will promptly appeal the squad to intervene on his behalf.

Team dynamics and fairness under scrutiny

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and to try to maintain strict fairness. Quite apart from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question regarding opinions.

Of most import to the title race, six races left, Piastri leads Norris by twenty-two points, there is what each driver perceives as fair and at what point their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – turn somewhat into Senna-Prost.

“It will reach a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal 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 become thrilling.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For the audience, during this dual battle, getting interesting will likely be appreciated as a track duel rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Not least because in Formula One the other impression from these events isn't very inspiring.

To be fair, McLaren are making the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and in Andrea Stella as squad leader they have an ethical and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Sporting integrity against squad control

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their contest should be decided on track. Luck and destiny will have roles, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and see how fortune falls, 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 and each time it happens it risks possibly affecting outcomes which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call in Budapest, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

No one wants to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri responded he believed they had, but noted 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 for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal room for error to do their cramming, thus perhaps wiser now to simply stop analyzing and step back from the fray.