Although there were waved blue flags, seemingly to warn Massa of a car behind him, they were both just starting another quick lap.

But just as Sato did to Rubens Barrichello in the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring at the end of last month – a move yesterday described by Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn as “doing a Sato” – the two ran into one another.

Sato went into the side of Massa, the latter able to continue while the former trundled onto the grass where he had to be rescued by a crane, resulting in the session being halted for nine minutes.

The look on Massa’s face said it all as he waited for his mechanics to overhaul the car to ensure there was no damage, and he pulled no punches in his condemnation of Sato after a meeting with the stewards to explain their actions.

“I think it [Sato’s manoeuvre] was too optimistic and I just told him that for me he is completely mad,” said Massa.

“I have told the stewards what I think about it and we will see what they are going to do, but for sure they need to do something.

“I watched him in the mirror on the straight and he was far away from me. In the turn in, I watched him and he was not beside me.

“When I turned in I watched in the mirrors and he just came and hit me, the back of my side.”

Sato later dismissed Massa’s outburst as he said: “Okay, whatever!

“He made a mistake in the last corner and so I caught him in the banking area and I was in the tow.

I saw the blue flags waving and so going into turn one I went to overtake him.

“But there was totally unnecessary movement [from Massa] and unfortunately we both touched. To me it is unbelievable.

“The stewards have not penalised us, and I agree it was a totally unnecessary situation in free practice because it is not racing. It was just unfortunate.

“As drivers, we obviously both have a different view of it, but I don’t care.”