In a stunning post-race twist at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22, McLaren’s drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both disqualified after their cars failed technical inspections, stripping them of valuable points in the season finale triple-header.
The incident has dramatically tightened the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship battle, handing a lifeline to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen just two races from the end of the season.
The Race and Immediate Aftermath
The Las Vegas GP, held under the neon lights of the Strip, saw Verstappen dominate from pole to claim victory, fending off a strong challenge from Norris, who crossed the line in second place—his best result since the Mexican GP and one that appeared to extend his championship lead to 30 points over teammate Piastri (who recovered from an early off-track excursion to finish fourth).
Piastri had started the weekend as the title favorite but had leaked points to Norris in recent races, trailing by six points entering Vegas.
The disqualifications stemmed from a violation of Article 3.5.9 e) of the 2025 F1 Technical Regulations, which mandates that the rearmost skid block (a wooden plank on the car’s floor) must measure at least 9mm thick after the race to ensure fair wear and prevent teams from running floors too low for aerodynamic gains.