McLaren's Lando Norris has declared that his approach to securing his maiden Formula One world championship remains unaltered, despite the seismic blow of being disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix alongside teammate Oscar Piastri. The dramatic post-race decision has massively tightened the title battle with Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
The Las Vegas Setback and Its Championship Impact
The Nevada race, won by Verstappen, initially saw Norris secure a strong second place and Piastri finish fourth. However, four hours after the chequered flag fell, the FIA stewards delivered a crushing verdict. Both McLaren cars were disqualified after an investigation found the skid blocks on their car floors were worn down beyond the permitted 9mm limit stipulated in the technical regulations.
The consequences for the championship standings were immediate and severe. Heading into the Las Vegas weekend, Verstappen trailed Norris by a significant 49 points. With Norris and Piastri stripped of their points, that gap has been brutally halved. Verstappen now sits just 24 points behind Norris, a deficit he shares with Piastri, as the circus arrives in Qatar for the penultimate round of the season.
Norris and Piastri React to the Disappointment
Facing the media in Qatar, Norris was adamant that the increased pressure from a now much-closer Verstappen does not change his mindset. "We've treated him as a threat the whole year even when he was a few more points behind," Norris stated. "We know what he's capable of, we know what Red Bull is capable of so therefore nothing changes now."
He acknowledged the sting of the disqualification, admitting "of course it hurts." He described the feeling of seeing the team's immense effort "disappear very quickly," but confirmed he has found it "quite easy just to move on" and focus on the challenge in Qatar.
When questioned on team orders and whether he would be prepared to assist Norris in his fight against Verstappen, Piastri was unequivocal. "We've had a very brief discussion on it and the answer is no," the Australian driver said. "I'm still equal on points with Max and I've got a decent shot of still winning it." This sets the stage for a thrilling three-way internal and external battle at the Losail International Circuit.
McLaren's Explanation: Porpoising the Unforeseen Culprit
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella addressed the issue in detail for the first time since the event, firmly rejecting the notion that the team had been reckless. "Based on the data we had acquired in practice, we do not believe we took excessive risks in terms of ride height," Stella asserted, noting the team had even added a safety margin for the race.
Stella identified the root cause as an unexpected and severe bout of porpoising – the violent bouncing of the car – which emerged during the race itself. "The specific cause that led to the situation was the unexpected occurrence of extensive porpoising, inducing large vertical oscillations of the car," he explained. "It was not anticipated based on what we had seen in practice."
With a 24-point lead and 58 points available in Qatar, including those from the Sprint race, Norris's mission is clear. To clinch his first world title this weekend, he must outscore both Verstappen and Piastri by at least two points, or by a single point if he wins the Grand Prix on Sunday.
