McLaren has apologized to its drivers after a breach of Formula One regulations led to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri being disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The two drivers, who are top contenders for the title, lost their points, bringing reigning champion Max Verstappen closer in the championship standings.
Verstappen won the race, with Norris finishing second and Piastri fourth. However, four hours after the event, the FIA disqualified both McLaren drivers when their cars’ skid blocks were found to be worn below the permitted 9mm limit.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed regret, saying, “We apologize to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points at this crucial stage in their championship campaigns, especially after their strong performances all weekend. We also extend our apologies to our partners and fans. Despite this setback, we remain focused on the final two races of the season.”
With the adjusted results, Verstappen is now only 24 points behind Norris and tied with Piastri. Two races remain in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, offering a total of 58 points. Norris must outscore both rivals by at least two points in Qatar to take a 26-point lead and secure the title there, but the tight competition suggests the championship may be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 7.
Norris expressed frustration, stating, “It’s disappointing to lose so many points. As a team, we push for performance but didn’t get the balance right today. Now, we’re fully focused on Qatar, where we aim to perform at our best.”
Piastri echoed the sentiment, saying, “It’s disappointing to leave with no points due to skid wear. We’re always looking for performance gains and didn’t succeed this time. We’ll reset and push for the best results in the last two rounds.”
The FIA issued a statement after a lengthy meeting with McLaren, noting that while the team cited mitigating circumstances like unexpected bouncing and limited practice time, the rules left no room for leniency. The FIA emphasized that the breach was unintentional and not an attempt to cheat.We’re creating a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete your full registration anytime. For details on how we handle your data, please see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to secure our website, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
After newsletter promotion:
Quick Guide: Formula One Drivers’ World Championship Standings
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 390 points – 7 wins
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 366 points – 7 wins
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 366 points – 6 wins
Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.
Skid blocks are titanium plates set into the plank under the car. Originally made of wood, these planks are now constructed from permaglass, a type of glass-reinforced laminate. The titanium plates create sparks when downforce presses them against the track, gradually wearing them down. The plank must be 10mm thick when new, with a tolerance of ±0.2mm, and can wear down to no less than 9mm during use.
Teams must consider this limit when adjusting their car’s ride height for races, but they often push it to the edge since a lower ride height can improve performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about McLarens apology following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix designed to be clear and helpful for fans of all knowledge levels
General Beginner Questions
1 What happened with McLaren at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
McLarens two cars driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified after the race because a part of their car was found to be illegal
2 Why were they disqualified
Officials found that a specific piece of the cars floor was worn down more than the rules allow This can give a car an unfair aerodynamic advantage
3 What did McLaren apologize for
McLaren apologized for the mistake that led to the disqualification saying sorry directly to their drivers Lando and Oscar and to all their fans for the disappointment
4 Did Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri do anything wrong
No the drivers did nothing wrong The issue was with the team and the preparation of the car which is entirely the teams responsibility
5 What were the original results before the disqualification
Before being disqualified Lando Norris had finished in 4th place and Oscar Piastri had finished in 6th place
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 What specific part of the car was illegal
The illegal part was a small standardized plank on the underside of the car The rules state how much this plank can wear down during a race and McLarens was found to be too thin
7 Why is the plank so important
The plank is a safety and performance regulation It limits how low a car can be run to the ground A lower car can generate more downforce making it faster but its against the rules to prevent teams from running dangerously low and for ensuring a level playing field
8 How did this mistake happen
McLaren stated it was due to a miscalculation in their setup process for the unique bumpy street circuit in Las Vegas They didnt anticipate how much the car would bounce and wear the plank down on that specific track
9 What are the consequences of a disqualification
The team loses all the points they scored in that race For McLaren this meant losing the 18 points they earned
