🔗 Share this article

The British racing team and F1 would benefit from anything decisive in the title fight involving Lando Norris and Piastri being decided on the track rather than without resorting to team orders with the title run-in begins this weekend at COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout leads to internal strain

With the Singapore Grand Prix’s doubtless extensive and tense debriefs dealt with, the Woking-based squad is aiming for a fresh start. Norris was likely fully conscious of the historical context regarding his retort to his aggrieved teammate during the previous race weekend. During an intense championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked one of Ayrton Senna’s well-known quotes was lost on no one yet the occurrence that provoked his comment was of an entirely different nature from incidents characterizing the Brazilian’s iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting an inside move through an opening then you don't belong in F1,” Norris said 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 for a gap that exists then you cease to be a true racer” justification he gave to Sir Jackie Stewart after he ploughed into Alain Prost in Japan in 1990, ensuring he took the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

While the spirit is similar, the wording is where the similarities end. The late champion confessed he had no intent to allow Prost to defeat him at turn one 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 team colleague during the pass. This incident stemmed from him touching the car driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, instantly stated that Norris's position gain was “unfair”; suggesting that the two teammates clashing was verboten by team protocols of engagement and Norris ought to be told to give back the place he had made. McLaren did not do so, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, both will promptly appeal to the team to step in on his behalf.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This is part and parcel from McLaren's commendable approach to allow their racers compete one another and strive to be as scrupulously fair. Quite apart from tying some torturous knots when establishing rules about what defines fair or unfair – which, under these auspices, now includes bad luck, strategy and on-track occurrences like in Marina Bay – there is the question of perception.

Most crucially for the championship, six races left, Piastri is ahead of Norris by twenty-two points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their perspectives might split with that of the McLaren pitwall. That is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – turn somewhat into the iconic rivalry.

“It will reach a point where a few points will matter,” said Mercedes boss Wolff post-race. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I suppose 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 probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation instead of a data-driven decision regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the other impression from all this isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for themselves with successful results. They secured their 10th constructors’ title in Singapore (though a great achievement overshadowed by the controversy from the Norris-Piastri moment) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who truly aims to do the right thing.

Racing purity against team management

However, with racers in a championship fight looking to the pitwall for resolutions is unedifying. Their competition should be decided through racing. Chance and fate will have roles, yet preferable to allow them just battle freely and observe outcomes naturally, rather than the sense that each contentious incident will be analyzed intensely by the squad to ascertain whether they need to intervene and then cleared up later in private.

The scrutiny will increase with every occurrence it risks potentially making a difference which might prove decisive. Previously, after the team made 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 spectre of a fear of favouritism also looms.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

No one wants to witness a championship constantly disputed over perceived that the efforts to be fair were unequal. Questioned whether he believed the squad had managed to do right toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but mentioned that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“We've had several challenging moments and we discussed a number of things,” he stated post-race. “However finally it’s a learning process for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. McLaren have little room for error for last-minute adjustments, thus perhaps wiser now to simply close the books and withdraw from the fray.