McLaren Disqualified at Las Vegas GP: 5 Key Takeaways After FIA Decision

McLaren suffered a dramatic blow at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified following post-race scrutineering. The decision, linked to excessive wear on the cars’ skid blocks, immediately reshaped the drivers’ title fight and sent fans and pundits into overdrive.

Skid block — or plank — wear is a long-standing technical rule in Formula 1: cars must retain a minimum plank thickness after the race to ensure ride-height and contact limits are respected. Breaches have led to sporting penalties before, and the Las Vegas findings are another reminder of how fine the margins are. Before the disqualification, Norris had finished second and Piastri fourth, scoring valuable points that now have been removed from the official result.

McLaren Disqualified at Las Vegas GP: 5 Key Takeaways After FIA Decision

Main update
FIA stewards ruled both McLarens non-compliant after routine post-race inspections showed skid plank wear below the mandated level. The team has issued statements acknowledging the outcome and apologising to drivers and fans, while the FIA described the infraction as a technical breach. Initial reporting makes clear the decision is final in the race classification; any further procedural steps — such as an appeal — are not officially confirmed yet. This development is the core of current F1 disqualification news.

Impact
The immediate sporting effect is stark. With the McLaren disqualified Vegas GP result removed, championship points were reallocated — narrowing Lando Norris’s lead and allowing Max Verstappen to re-enter the title fight, with just two races remaining in the season. Fans watching the title battle have reacted strongly across social media, while betting markets and team strategies will adjust rapidly ahead of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds. The phrase “Norris Piastri Las Vegas GP” is trending in commentary threads as supporters and critics parse what went wrong.

Expert/analyst view
Technical analysts point to ride-height management and unexpected underbody contact — perhaps worsened by Las Vegas’s unique surface and race conditions — as plausible causes of accelerated plank wear. Motorsport specialists say teams often run extremely fine margins on plank thickness to gain aerodynamic advantage; when the margin is lost, penalties can follow. Most analysts are careful to call this an operational error rather than intentional rule-breaking, at least based on current reports.

Conclusion
The McLaren disqualified Vegas GP outcome is a significant late-season twist in the 2025 title fight and a reminder of how technical rules can decide races. Expect intense scrutiny of McLaren’s data and setup choices and sharp focus on Qatar and Abu Dhabi as the paddock looks for a clear path to the championship. Whether the team pursues further action remains not officially confirmed yet — but sporting and technical fallout will dominate the next days.