Lando Norris gives X-rated response to Italian GP controversy as McLaren launch investigation

Lando Norris delivered an X-rated response after being teased over what happened during the Italian Grand Prix.

Last weekend, the Italian Grand Prix was won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Leclerc won ahead of McLaren pair Norris and Oscar Piastri after sticking to a one-stop strategy.

Norris was left disappointed after he started on pole position but was then overtaken in the first lap by teammate Piastri, who made an aggressive move at the Roggia chicane.

After the race, a lot was made about the fact that McLaren allowed their drivers to race that closely despite Norris trying to hunt down current Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen.

On the team radio, Norris was told that the ‘Papaya Rules’ were in play, team boss Zak Brown said: “Papaya rules are it’s your team mate; race him hard, race him clean, don’t touch, that happened. It was an aggressive pass so that’s a conversation we’ll have, that was a bit nerve wracking on pit wall but it’s really just respect your team mate.

“Lando got a bad run out of that corner as well so it would have been nice to see them run one-two a bit longer. They didn’t touch, it was an aggressive pass but a clean pass.”

Just a few days after the race, Norris was reminded about ‘Papaya Rules’ while streaming with his friend Max Fewtrell, who said: “Alright Lando, Papaya Rules in Turn One mate.”

Norris replied: “F***ing hell,” before the rest of the group burst out laughing. You can watch the footage below, the video contains strong language.

Speaking after the race, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella revealed that they would review the incident.

He said: “We will have to review together with the drivers, look at the videos, understand their point of view. And then we will assess together whether they were fully compliant or not.

“We will take the learning if there is any learning that we need to take. And then we will adjust the Papaya Rules such that they allow us to pursue in the best possible manner both the constructors' championship and the driver's championship.”

F1 will return with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix next weekend, which will take place at the Baku City Circuit on September 15.