On lap 24 of 51, the McLaren pair came to blows at the first chicane as rookie racer Piastri re-joined the Monza track alongside earlier-stopping Norris in a dice for what was then 10th position.

With Piastri on the inside at the tight first apex, the front-right of the Australian’s MCL60 glanced his team-mate’s sidepod. There was no major damage and both escaped punishment from the stewards.

Nevertheless, team boss Stella branded the incident as “unacceptable”. He said: “There should never ever be contact between two McLaren cars.

“There was a contact, which doesn’t fit the way we go racing at McLaren.