McLaren launch investigation into whether their own driver broke strict rule at Italian GP

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has revealed the team will 'review' the compliance of Oscar Piastri's lap one overtake on his teammate Lando Norris during the Italian GP.

It was a partial disaster for McLaren at Monza on Saturday as they failed to convert their 1-2 in qualifying to race victory, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc winning his team's home race by using the one-stop strategy.

Norris went into Sunday's race starting from pole position, with the Brit hoping to make a dent into Max Verstappen's 70-point lead in the championship with the Dutchman starting in seventh.

However, Norris' first lap woes continued as his teammate Piastri put a major spanner in the works by overtaking Norris into the second chicane.

Piastri left enough room for Norris but it was an extremely aggressive pass that forced Norris off the racing line which allowed Leclerc to fly past the 24-year-old as well.

The incident meant Norris continued his 100% record of losing the lead inside the first lap when starting on pole.

Following the race, Stella was questioned on Piastri's overtake as it undoubtedly changed the forecast of the race to the detriment of McLaren's lead driver, (in the championship) Norris.

"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," Stella explained after the race.

Throughout the race, the term 'papaya rules' were used on McLaren's radio on multiple occasions. This was later explained to mean Norris and Piastri were allowed to race as long as they gave each other enough space.

Norris and Piastri after the Italian GP- Getty

However, due to Norris losing valuable points in his battle with Verstappen Stella has admitted these 'papaya rules' may need to be adjusted.

"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," he explained.

Verstappen came home to finish the race 6th, meaning Norris' podium cut down the reigning champion's lead by eight points with eight remaining races in 2024.