McLaren’s miscalculation at the Las Vegas Grand Prix has dramatically altered the drivers’ championship battle, leaving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified after finishing second and fourth, respectively. The issue centered on excessive wear on the cars’ skid blocks, which exceeded the 9mm limit, instantly tightening Max Verstappen’s challenge.
Before the disqualification, Norris had comfortably led the championship, with a 104-point advantage over Piastri after the Dutch GP. Following Las Vegas, that cushion has been drastically reduced, leaving just 24 points separating Norris and Verstappen ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. A single error, contact, mechanical issue, or technical infringement could now have massive consequences.
The mistake stemmed from a combination of challenging circumstances. During second practice in Las Vegas, the team lost crucial time to stoppages, preventing the completion of standard race simulations vital for determining the correct ride height. The final practice session was wet, altering car behavior and reducing aerodynamic downforce, further complicating the setup process.
Race day presented additional challenges, with the cars experiencing notable bouncing and bottoming under the current ground-effect regulations. McLaren had attempted to manage the situation, instructing Norris to adopt a lift-and-coast strategy in the closing laps, initially believed to be fuel-saving but later revealed to help reduce skid block wear.
Despite awareness of being close to regulatory limits, McLaren failed to keep the cars within compliance, a problem other teams in similar conditions did not encounter. The timing of this oversight has been especially damaging, as the championship lead that once seemed secure is now under serious threat.
While Norris still holds a chance to secure the title, the Las Vegas misstep has added unnecessary pressure. Outscoring his rivals in Doha, where 33 points are available across the sprint and grand prix, would be enough to seal the championship. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how even small errors in Formula 1 can have dramatic consequences.
