The Formula 1 world was shaken Sunday night when Lando Norris, the 25-year-old British driver for McLaren Racing Limited, and his teammate Oscar Piastri, the 23-year-old Australian, were disqualified from the 2025 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit — a move that turned the championship on its head with just two races left. The disqualification, announced just after 1:30 a.m. local time, came after FIA technical inspectors found both McLaren MCL39 cars had skid plank wear below the mandatory 9mm minimum — a violation so clear, even McLaren’s own engineers couldn’t dispute it. The ruling, delivered by Chief Steward Herbie Blash, left no room for appeal. No discretion. No mercy. Just the rules.
How a 1mm Gap Changed Everything
Before the disqualification, Norris sat comfortably atop the Drivers’ Championship with 30 points more than Piastri and a commanding 42-point lead over race winner Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing. Piastri, in fourth, had been quietly building momentum. But when the FIA’s laser-measured plank thickness came back at 8.7mm — and then 8.5mm on recheck — everything collapsed. Norris lost his second-place finish and 18 championship points. Piastri lost his fourth-place haul of 12. Suddenly, the lead wasn’t a cushion — it was a mirage. Norris’s advantage over Verstappen dropped to 24 points. And Piastri? He was now tied with Verstappen on points, holding the tiebreaker thanks to more race wins this season. The championship didn’t just tighten — it exploded.
The Plank That Broke the Championship
The skid plank — a wooden block beneath the car — isn’t just a safety feature. It’s a critical tool to enforce ride height regulations and prevent teams from running too low for aerodynamic advantage. FIA regulations state that if the plank wears below 9mm, disqualification is automatic. No exceptions. Not even if it’s unintentional. And that’s exactly what McLaren Racing Limited team principal Andrea Stella admitted. "The combination of the Las Vegas surface and our setup caused the plank to scrape more than expected," he said. "We didn’t try to cheat. We just didn’t see it coming." The track’s bumpy, uneven tarmac — a known challenge for floor durability — combined with McLaren’s aggressive downforce setup, created a perfect storm. The team had seen unusual wear during Friday practice but didn’t adjust ride height enough. A tiny miscalculation. A 1.3mm gap. And now, the title race is wide open.
Who Benefits? Who Pays?
With Norris and Piastri out, Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari was promoted to second, gaining 18 points — his best finish since Monaco. Sergio Pérez, Verstappen’s teammate, moved up to third, adding 12 crucial points. But the real winner? The title battle itself. Before Las Vegas, Norris was on track to clinch the championship in Abu Dhabi. Now, he needs to win both remaining races — and hope his rivals crash, retire, or make mistakes. According to Kieran Jackson, Senior F1 Correspondent for The Independent, Norris must now outscore both Verstappen and Piastri by 25 or 26 points in Qatar alone to seal the title there. Before, he needed just 14. That’s the difference between a safety net and a high-wire act.
The Road Ahead: Qatar and Abu Dhabi — A Two-Race Firestorm
The next event, the Qatar Grand PrixLusail International Circuit, arrives in just six days — and it’s a sprint weekend. That means 26 points for the main race, plus 8 for the sprint. Total: 34 points up for grabs. Abu Dhabi, on December 7, offers 26. That’s 58 points left. Verstappen, now tied with Piastri, can win the title with a single victory and a Norris DNF. Piastri, despite being his teammate, is now a direct rival. And Norris? He’s no longer the favorite. He’s the hunted. "It’s brutal," said one senior McLaren engineer, speaking off the record. "We thought we were pushing the limits. Turns out we crossed a line we didn’t even know was there. Now we’re paying for it in points, pride, and legacy."
A First in F1 History
This is the first time since 2021 — when Lewis Hamilton was disqualified at the Chinese Grand Prix — that a team has lost both cars from a race due to plank wear. Even more rare: two teammates, both disqualified, in the same race, with the championship hanging in the balance. The last time such a scenario occurred in the final stretch of a title fight? Never. The FIA’s Technical Director, Nikolas Tombazis, made it clear: "This isn’t about punishment. It’s about fairness. If we allow exceptions here, we break the integrity of the sport."
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this affect Lando Norris’s chances of winning the championship?
Norris now needs to outscore both Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri by 25 or 26 points in the Qatar Grand Prix alone to clinch the title there — a near-impossible task. Before Las Vegas, he only needed a 14-point lead. With 58 points still available across two races, he must win both and hope his rivals score minimal points. A single DNF or podium for either Verstappen or Piastri could end his title hopes.
Why were both McLaren cars disqualified if the issue was unintentional?
FIA regulations are absolute: any plank wear below 9mm triggers mandatory disqualification, regardless of intent. This rule exists to prevent teams from exploiting ride height advantages. Even if McLaren didn’t cheat, their setup pushed the car too close to the limit on a uniquely abrasive track. The FIA treats this as a technical violation, not a moral one — and precedent leaves no room for leniency.
Could McLaren appeal the decision?
No. The FIA confirmed the disqualification was non-appealable under Article 3.5.9, which explicitly states that such violations carry automatic penalties. McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, acknowledged the violation and accepted the ruling. Appeals in F1 are typically reserved for procedural errors or disputed interpretations — not objective technical measurements confirmed by two independent checks.
How does this impact McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship chances?
McLaren’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship has shrunk from 41 points to just 12 over Red Bull. With both cars out of the Las Vegas points, Red Bull gained 30 points in one race. If Verstappen wins both remaining races and Piastri finishes outside the top five, Red Bull could overtake McLaren. The team’s title defense is now in tatters — and they’re fighting to keep second place.
What’s different about the Qatar Grand Prix format?
Qatar features a sprint weekend: Friday’s FP1 and FP2, Saturday’s sprint race (awarding 8 points to the winner, down to 1 point for 8th), and Sunday’s main race (26 points for the winner). This doubles the points available compared to a normal weekend. With 34 points on the line over two races, it’s the most critical session of the season — and the perfect stage for Verstappen or Piastri to strike.
Has this ever happened in a title-deciding race before?
Never. While individual disqualifications have altered championships — like Hamilton’s in 2021 — no team has lost both cars in the final stretch of a title fight, with the leader suddenly tied with rivals. This is unprecedented in F1 history. The emotional and psychological impact on Norris, Piastri, and McLaren’s entire organization is unlike anything seen in modern motorsport.
