WATCH: Oscar Piastri's controversial overtake on Lando Norris under McLaren's investigation

In a dramatic turn of events at the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren has launched an investigation into a controversial overtaking manoeuvre by Oscar Piastri on his teammate, Lando Norris. The incident, which unfolded during the high-stakes Monza race, has sparked intense scrutiny within the team.

McLaren says that they are evaluating whether Piastri’s aggressive move breached the team's internal 'Papaya Rules.' Starting from pole position, Norris had the opportunity to close the gap on Max Verstappen in the championship standings.

Here is the video:

The overtake from Piastri on Norris. I don't think Norris was expecting that #F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/Zgibd6P6p4

— Mohsin (@MB07__) September 1, 2024

However, his race was marred by a significant drop to third place after the first lap, a position he maintained until the finish. The key moment of contention came when Piastri executed a daring overtaking manoeuvre at the second chicane. The Australian’s move, though clean, was notably tight and allowed Charles Leclerc to pass as well.

What are McLaren’s Papaya rules?

During the race, McLaren had instructed their drivers to adhere to the 'Papaya Rules,' which are designed to ensure a degree of leniency and space between teammates during overtakes. Norris expressed his discomfort after the race, stating that Piastri’s move had been "too close for comfort." This sentiment prompted McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, to announce a formal review.

Stella emphasized the importance of understanding the incident from all angles, saying, "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." He also noted that any lessons learned would be used to refine the ‘Papaya Rules’ to balance competitiveness with safety.

As McLaren prepares to dissect the incident, the team's approach to regulating intra-team racing remains under the spotlight. The outcome of this investigation could have implications for how McLaren enforces its racing protocols in future events, aiming to uphold both the drivers' championship and the constructors' championship aspirations.