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

The British racing team along with Formula One would benefit from anything decisive in the championship battle involving Lando Norris & Piastri getting resolved through on-track action rather than without reference to the pit wall as the championship finale begins at the COTA on Friday.

Marina Bay race fallout prompts team tensions

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and stressful debriefs concluded, McLaren will be hoping for a reset. Norris was likely fully conscious about the historical parallels regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate at the last 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 was of an entirely different nature to those that defined the Brazilian’s great rivalries.

“Should you criticize me for simply attempting on the inside through an opening then you should not be in F1,” stated Norris of his opening-lap attempt to overtake which resulted in the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go for a gap which is there you are no longer a true racer” defence he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into the French champion in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the championship.

Parallel mindset but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one while Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. In fact, it was a perfectly valid effort which received no penalty even with the glancing blow he made against his team colleague as he went through. That itself was a result of him clipping the car of Max Verstappen in front of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris gaining the place was “unfair”; the implication being the two teammates clashing was forbidden by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, but it was indicative that during disputes between them, each would quickly ask to the team to step in in their favor.

Team dynamics and fairness being examined

This is part and parcel of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race one another and strive to maintain strict fairness. Aside from creating complex dilemmas in setting precedents about what defines fair or unfair – under these conditions, now covers misfortune, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Of most import for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two 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 their friendly rapport among them could eventually – become a little bit more the iconic rivalry.

“It’s going to come a point where minor points count,” commented Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and back-calculate and I guess the elbows are going to come out a bit more. That’s when it starts to get interesting.”

Viewer desires and championship implications

For spectators, during this dual battle, increased excitement will likely be appreciated in the form of an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since in Formula One the other impression from all this is not particularly rousing.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves and it has paid off. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (albeit a brilliant success diminished by the controversy from their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they possess a moral and principled leader who truly aims to act correctly.

Racing purity against team management

Yet having drivers 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 each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the team to ascertain whether intervention is needed and subsequently resolved afterwards behind closed doors.

The scrutiny will intensify and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, following the team's decision their drivers swap places at Monza because Norris had endured a slow pit stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the shadow of concern about bias also emerges.

Team perspective and upcoming tests

Nobody desires to witness a championship endlessly debated because it may be considered that fairness attempts were unequal. When asked if he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said he believed they had, but mentioned it's a developing process.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed a number of things,” he said post-race. “However finally it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six meetings remain. The team has minimal wriggle room left for last-minute adjustments, so it may be better to just stop analyzing and withdraw from the fray.