Scandal in Las Vegas: McLaren Disqualified and the Championship at Stake
An unexpected turn shook the Las Vegas Grand Prix when the cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren drivers, were disqualified from the race. The decision, made hours after the competition, was due to excessive wear on the plank, a crucial part on the underside of the Formula 1 single-seaters. The wear detected on Norris’s car exceeded the permitted limit by 0.12 millimeters, while on Piastri’s it was 0.26 millimeters. To put it in perspective, the thickness of an average human hair ranges from 0.17 to 0.181 millimeters. This minimal difference could have significant consequences in the fight for the championship. The disqualification, announced by the stewards, reduced Norris’s lead over his competitors. The British driver, who initially believed he had a 30-point advantage over Piastri and 42 over Max Verstappen, now has a difference of 24 points over both, heading into the Qatar Grand Prix.Why the Disqualification?
The FIA’s technical regulations set strict limits for plank wear, with no margin for error. This component is designed to wear down during the race, protecting the underside of the car and ensuring a minimum ride height above the ground. A car too close to the ground can improve aerodynamic performance, but it also increases the risk of losing downforce, which compromises stability. FIA stewards check the wear of the plank at specific points to ensure compliance with regulations. In Norris’s case, the depth of two of the four measurement holes was less than permitted, while in Piastri’s car, three of the four holes showed the same anomaly. In this year’s Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was also disqualified for the same infraction, with the plank wear exceeding the limit by 0.5 millimeters.Why Did McLaren Race with the Car So Low?
Current Formula 1 cars are extremely sensitive to ride height. The lower the car, the more the ground effect is exploited, generating greater downforce that allows for taking corners at incredible speeds.Every race weekend, teams seek the ideal ride height, balancing aerodynamic performance and plank wear. Although simulations are useful, teams rely on track testing to make the final decision before qualifying.
Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, added:“The team argued that there were mitigating circumstances, such as additional and unexpected ‘porpoising’, the limited opportunity to test due to the weather and shorter practice sessions.”
Stewards’ statement
McLaren was aware of the problem during the race, and instructed Norris to lift off the accelerator and coast at the end of the straights. Despite the efforts, which at times made him lose more than 3.5 seconds per lap, they were not enough.“During the race, both cars experienced unexpected and high levels of ‘porpoising’, not seen in the practice sessions, which caused excessive contact with the ground. We are investigating the reasons for this car behavior, including the effect of accidental damage suffered by both cars, which we found after the race, and which caused an increase in ground movement.”
Andrea Stella
McLaren apologized to its drivers. Although Norris now faces the last two races with less advantage than expected, he remains the favorite for the title. He has a 24-point lead over his closest rivals, and if he manages to extend it to 26 or more at the end of the Qatar Grand Prix, he will secure the championship. Meanwhile, Piastri, who has struggled in recent races, saw the distance to his teammate reduced as a result of the disqualification. This gives him more opportunities than he would have had if both McLarens had been considered legal. Verstappen is undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary, as it seemed he would be eliminated from the title fight in Qatar if the initial result of the McLarens had been maintained. Now, if he achieves a result ahead of Norris and Piastri in the sprint race and in next weekend’s Grand Prix, he will remain in contention until the last race in Abu Dhabi.“We had to manage a few things towards the end of the race and now we know it was due to some issues on our car, which unfortunately have disqualified us,” said Norris. “It’s frustrating to lose so many points. As a team, we are always striving to find the most performance possible, and we clearly didn’t achieve that balance today.”
Lando Norris
