McLaren has issued an apology to its drivers and fans following the disqualification of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a decision that has handed the Formula One drivers’ championship momentum back to reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Both McLaren drivers had strong showings in Las Vegas, with Norris finishing second and Piastri fourth. However, post-race inspections revealed that the skid blocks on the floor of their cars had worn down below the 9mm minimum set out in the regulations, leading to their disqualification. The FIA investigation, which concluded several hours after the race, confirmed the breach and clarified that the infringement was unintentional.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, expressed the team’s regret over the outcome. “We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend,” Stella said. “As a team, we also apologise to our partners and fans, whose support means so much. While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season.”
The revised standings significantly impact the title fight. Verstappen, who won the race, has closed the gap to Norris from 49 points to just 24, while Piastri is now level with Verstappen. With only two races remaining, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the championship is now poised for a dramatic conclusion. Norris must outscore both rivals in Qatar to maintain a strong title lead, but the battle appears likely to reach Abu Dhabi.
Both drivers expressed disappointment. Norris said the weekend’s efforts felt wasted, adding that the team had pushed for maximum performance but had misjudged the setup. “Nothing I can do will change that now; instead, full focus switches to Qatar, where we’ll aim to deliver the best possible performance in every session,” he said.
Piastri also reflected on the setback, noting the need to regroup for the remaining rounds. “It is disappointing to come away with no points after an unfortunate disqualification due to skid wear,” he said. “We now need to reset, refocus, and push to get the best points possible in the final two rounds, both tracks where we’ve previously been strong.”
The FIA acknowledged McLaren’s mitigating circumstances, including unexpected porpoising and limited track time, but confirmed there was no provision in the regulations to avoid disqualification. The governing body emphasized that the breach was unintentional, and McLaren had not deliberately sought to circumvent the rules.
