Lando Norris as Senna versus Oscar Piastri as Prost? Not exactly, however the team needs to pray championship is settled through racing

The British racing team and Formula One could do with any conclusive outcome during this championship battle involving Norris & Piastri being decided through on-track action rather than without reference to team orders as the championship finale kicks off at the COTA starting Friday.

Singapore Grand Prix fallout prompts internal strain

After the Singapore Grand Prix’s undoubtedly thorough and stressful post-race analyses dealt with, the Woking-based squad will be hoping for a reset. Norris was almost certainly fully conscious about the historical parallels of his riposte toward his upset colleague during the previous grand prix weekend. In a fiercely contested championship duel against Piastri, that Norris invoked a famous Senna most famous sentiments was lost on no one yet the occurrence which triggered his statement differed completely from incidents characterizing Senna's iconic battles.

“If you fault me for simply attempting on the inside of a big gap then you should not be in Formula One,” Norris said of his opening-lap attempt to pass which resulted in the cars colliding.

His comment appeared to paraphrase Senna’s “If you no longer go an available gap that exists then you cease to be a true racer” defence he gave to the racing knight following his collision with the French champion in Japan back in 1990, securing him the title.

Similar spirit but different circumstances

Although the attitude remains comparable, the phrasing marks where parallels stop. Senna later admitted he never intended to allow Prost to defeat him through the first corner whereas Norris did try to make his pass cleanly in Singapore. Indeed, his maneuver was legitimate which received no penalty despite the minor contact he made against his team colleague as he went through. That itself stemmed from him touching the Red Bull driven by Verstappen ahead of him.

Piastri reacted furiously and, significantly, immediately declared that Norris's position gain seemed unjust; suggesting that their collision was forbidden by team protocols for racing and Norris ought to be told to return the place he had made. The team refused, yet it demonstrated that in any cases between them, both will promptly appeal the squad to intervene in their favor.

Squad management and impartiality being examined

This comes naturally of McLaren’s laudable efforts to let their drivers race against each other and to try to be as scrupulously fair. Aside from tying some torturous knots in setting precedents over what constitutes just or unjust – under these conditions, now covers bad luck, tactical calls and on-track occurrences such as in Singapore – there is the question of perception.

Of most import to the title race, with six meetings remaining, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points, each racer's view exists on fairness and when their opinion may diverge from the team's stance. Which is when the amicable relationship between the two could eventually – become a little bit more Senna-Prost.

“It’s going to come to a situation where minor points count,” commented Mercedes boss Wolff after Singapore. “Then calculations will begin and re-calculations and I guess the elbows are going to come out further. That's when it begins to get interesting.”

Audience expectations and title consequences

For spectators, during this dual battle, getting interesting will probably be welcomed as an on-track confrontation rather than a spreadsheet-based arbitration regarding incidents. Especially since for F1 the alternative perception from these events isn't very inspiring.

Honestly speaking, McLaren is taking the correct decisions for their interests with successful results. They clinched their 10th constructors’ title at Marina Bay (though a great achievement diminished by the fuss prompted by their drivers' clash) and with Stella as team principal they have an ethical and upright commander who genuinely wants to do the right thing.

Sporting integrity against squad control

However, with racers competing for the title looking to the pitwall to decide matters appears unsightly. Their competition ought to be determined on track. Chance and fate will have roles, but better to let them simply go at it and observe outcomes naturally, than the impression that every disputed moment will be analyzed intensely by the team to determine if intervention is needed and then cleared up afterwards behind closed doors.

The examination will increase and each time it happens it risks potentially making a difference that could be critical. Previously, after the team made their drivers swap places at Monza due to Norris experiencing a delayed stop and Piastri believing he had been hard done by with the strategy call at Hungary, where Norris triumphed, the spectre of a fear about bias also emerges.

Squad viewpoint and future challenges

Nobody desires to witness a championship constantly disputed because it may be considered that the efforts to be fair had not been balanced. Questioned whether he believed the squad had acted correctly toward both racers, Piastri said that they did, but noted that it was an ever-evolving approach.

“There’s been some difficult situations and we discussed various aspects,” he stated after Singapore. “But ultimately it's educational for the entire squad.”

Six races stay. The team has minimal wriggle room left to do their cramming, so it may be better now to simply close the books and step back from the fray.