Norris as Ayrton Senna and Piastri likened to Prost? Not exactly, but McLaren needs to pray title is settled on track

The British racing team and Formula One could do with anything decisive in the title fight between Norris and Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without reference 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 Marina Bay event’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort toward his upset colleague at the last race weekend. In a fiercely contested title fight with the Australian, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence which triggered his statement was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for just going on the inside of a big gap then you don't belong in Formula One,” Norris said regarding his first-lap move to pass that led to their vehicles making contact.

His comment seemed to echo Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap which is there then you cease to be a true racer” defence he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion at Suzuka back in 1990, securing him the championship.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the phrasing is where the similarities end. Senna later admitted he had no intent to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner while Norris attempted to execute a clean overtake in Singapore. Indeed, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his McLaren teammate during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, notably, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being their collision was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris should be instructed to return the place he had made. The team refused, but it was indicative that during disputes of contention, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and impartiality under scrutiny

This comes naturally from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete against each other and to try to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas when establishing rules over what constitutes fair or unfair – under these conditions, now includes misfortune, strategy and racing incidents like in Marina Bay – there is the question regarding opinions.

Most crucially to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, there is what each driver perceives on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two may – finally – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Wolff post-race. “Then they’ll start to calculate and back-calculate and I suppose aggression will increase a bit more. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, in what is a two-horse race, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation rather than a data-driven decision of circumstances. Especially since in Formula One the alternative perception from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (albeit a brilliant success overshadowed by the fuss prompted by the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to act correctly.

Sporting integrity versus squad control

Yet having drivers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Luck and destiny will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and see how fortune falls, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved later in private.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it is in danger of potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri feeling he had been hard done by regarding tactics at Hungary, where Norris won, the shadow of concern of favouritism also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated over perceived that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. When asked if he felt the team had managed to do right by both drivers, Piastri responded that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “But ultimately it's educational with the whole team.”

Six meetings remain. McLaren have little wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the conflict.