McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to a technical infringement. Their McLaren MCL39 cars were found to have rear skid blocks that were worn below the mandated 9mm thickness limit following their second and fourth place finishes at the race.
This disqualification has dramatically altered the Formula 1 championship landscape, with Norris losing his 24-point lead over Max Verstappen and Piastri as the season nears its final two races. Verstappen’s decisive victory in Las Vegas keeps him mathematically in contention for the title, while McLaren’s penalties give the Red Bull driver a renewed chance to clinch a fifth world championship.
With up to 58 points still available in the upcoming Grands Prix and sprint races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the stakes remain high. The disqualification elevated Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to second and third place on the podium, respectively. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moved up to fourth, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Izak Hajar in the Racing Bulls, and Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber. Lewis Hamilton is now eighth in a Ferrari, while Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman scored points by finishing ninth and tenth.
Officials confirmed that the rear skid blocks on car No. 4 measured below the legal 9mm thickness, even after multiple rechecks, and cited no exceptions or mitigation for the breach. McLaren argued mitigating factors such as unexpected porpoising issues, limited practice time, and that the violation was less severe than past infractions. However, the FIA upheld the standard disqualification penalty, stating there was no precedent for a lesser sanction and no evidence of deliberate wrongdoing.
Oscar Piastri’s measurements also showed skid block thickness below the required threshold, reinforcing the decision.
Fan Take: This ruling shakes up the title fight just when it seemed McLaren had a clear advantage, re-energizing the championship battle and making the final races unmissable. It underscores how technical compliance is critical in F1, where even minor infractions can have major consequences for teams and fans alike.
