**LAS VEGAS** — In a stunning turn of events at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren have been disqualified, causing significant ripples in the drivers’ championship with only two grands prix and a sprint race remaining in the 2025 Formula One season.
This disqualification has reshuffled the championship standings, placing Oscar Piastri level on points with Max Verstappen, while Lando Norris, despite the disqualification, remains in the lead by a margin of 24 points. The repercussions of this ruling are immense, with a dramatic twenty-point swing favoring Verstappen compared to the provisional results, augmenting the pressure on Norris as he aims for his inaugural F1 championship.
The revised classification following the Las Vegas GP now sees Verstappen crowned as the race winner, while George Russell ascends to second place and Kimi Antonelli is promoted to third. This unexpected shift emphasizes the volatility of the championship and the importance of each race in these final weeks.
Throughout the race, Norris fought valiantly to catch Verstappen, who was leading with commendable pace. However, as the race progressed toward its conclusion, Norris reported a loss in speed, which raised eyebrows among spectators and team officials alike. His race engineer, Will Joseph, communicated over the radio that “the fuel looks OK now” and instructed him to “reduce what you’re doing a small amount,” hinting at potential concerns regarding fuel management.
Post-race inquiries naturally led to questions surrounding the possibility of a technical issue for Norris. The FIA initiated a thorough review, and Jo Bauer, the FIA Formula One technical director, confirmed that both Norris’s and Piastri’s rearmost skids measured less than the mandated 9 millimeters minimum thickness stipulated in the technical regulations. Norris’s measurements recorded were 8.88 millimeters on the front right and 8.93 millimeters on the rear right, while Piastri’s numbers showed 8.96 millimeters on the front left, 8.74 on the front right, and 8.90 on the rear right.
The re-measurement was conducted in the presence of three McLaren representatives and the stewards, reiterating that the skids did not meet regulatory requirements. Alarmingly, these readings were confirmed to be lower than those assessed initially by the Technical Delegate.
In defense, McLaren attributed the disqualification to the race’s significant porpoising—where the car’s underbody bounces against the racetrack—inferring this external factor contributed to the reduction in skid thickness. They argued that this breach was less severe than previous infractions in the current season of 2025.
Yet, the FIA countered, asserting that there are no exceptions in such instances. The stewards pointed out that past rulings from the FIA International Court of Appeal limit the options available to mitigate disqualification for technical breaches. They concluded: “Notwithstanding the submission by the Team that there was potentially accidental damage that may have led to movement of the floor, which could have caused additional wear, the Stewards do not consider this sufficient to mitigate the penalty.” Consequently, the typical penalty for breaching a technical regulation—disqualification—was enforced.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s principal, remarked post-decision, “The FIA noted the breach was unintentional; there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and mitigating circumstances also existed.” He conveyed apologies to both Norris and Piastri for the loss of valuable points in such a critical juncture of their championship pursuits and extended remorse to the team’s partners and supporters as well.
This rain on McLaren’s parade echoes a similar saga from earlier this season when Lewis Hamilton faced disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix for an identical violation regarding plank wear.
For context, the plank on an F1 car’s underside is crafted from a specialized composite material known as Jabroc—a strengthened beechwood designed primarily for safety. Its fundamental role is to prevent cars from bottoming out on the circuit, which leads to significant performance losses and risks for drivers.
The rationale behind the plank wear regulation is to inhibit teams from running their vehicles too close to the ground. Lowering the car excessively can generate unwarranted aerodynamic advantages through enhanced downforce, especially under the current regulations that favor effective utilization of ground effects. This aerodynamic effect allows a car’s underbody to accelerate airflow beneath, effectively pulling it downwards toward the track surface.
Following each race, the FIA conducts a detailed scrutineering process, ensuring every car complies with set regulations. A comprehensive post-race report, prepared by the FIA’s technical delegate Jo Bauer, is distributed to all competitors and made available to the media, maintaining transparency and accountability in the sport.