McLaren, Disqualified in Las Vegas: Verstappen Revives in the F1 Title Fight

Scandal in Las Vegas: McLaren Disqualified and Verstappen in the Fight for the Title

An unexpected turn shakes the Las Vegas Grand Prix. McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were disqualified due to illegal wear of their car’s planks. This incident propels Max Verstappen into the fight for the drivers’ championship. The Formula 1 regulations stipulate that the thickness of the planks located under the cars must not be less than 9 mm. However, after Saturday night’s race, it was discovered that the two McLarens were in violation of this rule. Following the verification, McLaren was summoned before the stewards, who determined the infringement of the regulations, resulting in disqualification.

This stunning turn of events in the 2025 title battle leaves Verstappen and Piastri tied with 366 points, while Norris leads with a 24-point advantage, with two races remaining.

The warning signs lit up at the end of the race when Norris was told to reduce his pace. Although it was initially believed to be due to a fuel problem, his gap to Verstappen was drastically reduced. Piastri finished in fourth place, followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who, after a five-second penalty, dropped to fifth place. Verstappen, after his victory, had maintained his chances in the fight for the championship, but now he is positioned as a real contender. The last two races will take place in the next two weeks, starting with the Qatar Grand Prix, which will include a sprint race on November 29, followed by the grand prix on November 30. While Verstappen seeks his fifth consecutive title, Norris and Piastri aim for their first championship. Verstappen has won four of the eight races since the F1 season resumed.

The thickness of the planks on F1 cars is measured at four points. The stewards found that the front right side of Norris’s car measured 8.88 mm and the rear right 8.93 mm. On Piastri’s car, the front left side measured 8.96 mm, the front right 8.74 mm, and the rear right 8.90 mm. In simple terms, McLaren’s margin of non-compliance was minimal, the thickness of a hair.

The official statement indicated: “The rear skates were re-measured in the presence of the commissioners and the three representatives of McLaren, and those measurements confirmed that the skates did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than the measurements originally taken by the Technical Delegate.

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McLaren team principal Andrea Stella lamented the results, explaining that the cars suffered unexpected “porpoising.” The causes are being investigated, including possible accidental damage. Norris expressed his frustration at the loss of points, while Piastri was equally disappointed. In the Qatar Grand Prix, there are 33 points at stake, which means that Piastri and Verstappen could leave the penultimate round leading the championship. The F1 season will conclude with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7th.