In a stunning twist that has dramatically reshaped the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, both McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Technical Breach That Changed the Championship
The seismic shift came after post-race scrutineering by the FIA, the sport's governing body. Technical delegate Jo Bauer reported that both McLaren cars, number 81 driven by Piastri and number 04 driven by Norris, showed excessive skid plank wear.
The critical measurement fell below the mandatory minimum thickness of 9mm, a clear breach of Article 3.5.9 e of the FIA's Technical Regulations. This finding was immediately referred to the race stewards for their consideration.
Despite a late-night appeal from Norris and a McLaren team representative to the stewards, just before midnight local time, the disqualification was confirmed. This marks an identical fate to that suffered by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier in the season, and similarly at the 2023 United States Grand Prix for the same infringement.
Immediate Impact on the Title Race
The consequences for the championship standings are profound. Before the disqualification, Norris had seemingly extended his lead over teammate Piastri to 30 points after finishing the race in second place, with the Australian crossing the line in fourth.
Race winner Max Verstappen of Red Bull now finds himself firmly back in the hunt. The Dutchman's victory, combined with the McLaren disqualifications, means he now trails championship leader Norris by just 24 points.
Verstappen also moves level on points with Piastri, both on 366 points, though the Red Bull driver holds third place in the standings by virtue of having won more Grands Prix over the season.
A Tense Finale Awaits
With only two rounds remaining in the 2025 season – the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix – the battle for the title has been thrown wide open. A total of 58 points remain available to be won, thanks to the inclusion of a sprint race in Qatar.
The updated championship top three now stands as follows:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 390 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 366 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 366 points
This dramatic turn of events sets up a nail-biting conclusion to the F1 season, where every point and every technical regulation will be scrutinised like never before.
