Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix following a technical breach. The McLaren team’s cars did not meet the required 9mm thickness for the planks underneath during post-race inspections, indicating an unauthorized ride height. Consequently, both drivers were excluded from the final standings.
The outcome significantly impacted the drivers’ championship battle as Max Verstappen claimed victory in Las Vegas. With Norris and Piastri losing their positions, Verstappen now shares the same points as Piastri and sits 24 points behind championship leader Norris, with just two races left in the season.
After the race, both McLaren drivers were called before the stewards for a hearing, which lasted over an hour and was finalized in the early hours of the morning. Norris, who initially finished second after starting from pole position, faced challenges during the race, including an overshoot that cost him positions to Verstappen and George Russell.
Despite his efforts to regain ground, Norris couldn’t catch Verstappen. However, the disqualification means he must defend his championship lead against both his McLaren teammate and Verstappen in the upcoming races.
Prior to the disqualification, Norris expressed disappointment with his race performance, acknowledging the team’s lack of pace compared to Red Bull. He looked forward to a break before focusing on the next race in Qatar to improve their performance.