In a dramatic turn of events, the McLaren Formula 1 team has issued a formal apology to its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after both were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The pair had initially secured a triumphant P2 and P4 finish, only for the results to be stripped away following a post-race technical inspection.
The Technical Breach Explained
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella released a detailed statement confirming the team was found in breach of Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Technical Regulations. The regulation mandates a minimum skid thickness of 9mm. The investigation revealed that Car 4, driven by Lando Norris, was non-compliant by a maximum of 0.12mm, while Car 81, piloted by Oscar Piastri, exceeded the limit by 0.26mm on the rearmost skid.
Unexpected Porpoising Blamed for Excessive Wear
The team attributed the excessive wear to an unforeseen technical issue. Stella explained that "both cars experienced unexpected, high levels of porpoising not seen in the Practice sessions, which led to excessive contact with the ground." This violent bouncing of the car, a phenomenon that has plagued the current generation of F1 cars, caused the skids to wear down beyond the legal limit.
McLaren is now investigating the root cause, including the effect of accidental damage sustained by both cars during the race. This damage, discovered post-race, is believed to have increased the movement of the car's floor, exacerbating the contact with the track surface.
Championship Blow and Team Apology
The disqualification deals a significant blow to both drivers' championship campaigns at a critical juncture in the season. Stella's statement extended a heartfelt apology: "We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their Championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend."
The team also apologised to its partners and fans, acknowledging their crucial support. The FIA stewards noted that the breach was unintentional, with no deliberate attempt to gain an unfair advantage, and recognised the existence of mitigating circumstances.
Despite the bitter disappointment, McLaren confirmed its focus remains squarely on the final two races of the season, determined to recover from this setback.
