Mclaren apologise after Las Vegas GP disqualifications

November 25, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

What began as a night of strong results for McLaren ended in confusion and frustration, as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were removed from the Las Vegas Grand Prix classification following post-race technical checks. The ruling not only erased valuable points but also tightened an already tense championship fight heading into the final two rounds.

Shock exclusions

The FIA confirmed that both McLaren entries failed post-race legality tests due to excessive skid block wear. According to Sky Sports, the team later discovered “accidental damage” on both cars, which they believe contributed to the problem but went unnoticed during the race.

Norris had finished behind Max Verstappen, while Piastri recovered to fourth after an aggressive drive. Within four hours, stewards struck both results from the record.

Team principal Andrea Stella described the verdict as “extremely disappointing” and apologised to the drivers, partners and fans. He added that the team was already shifting its focus toward the remaining events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Technical trouble

Formula 1 requires the plank or skid block beneath each car to remain above 10mm in thickness, with a 1mm tolerance to account for normal wear. The skid block is designed to prevent teams from running their cars too low, which can improve performance but increase safety risks. Cars that fall below the limit are automatically disqualified.

Stewards reported that Norris’s car fell short by 0.12mm and Piastri’s by 0.26mm. McLaren told officials that limited dry running during practice, due to red flags and changing conditions, made it harder to refine ride height settings.

That lack of preparation contributed to unexpectedly severe porpoising during the race, causing the cars to strike the track surface more often than anticipated.

Stella said that an inspection after the Grand Prix revealed floor damage on both cars, increasing unwanted movement and accelerating skid wear. He stressed that the breach was unintentional, a point acknowledged in the stewards’ report.

The ruling leaves Norris 24 points ahead of Piastri and Verstappen as Formula 1 heads to Qatar’s Sprint weekend.

Driver reactions

Norris, who can secure the championship in Qatar if he finishes the weekend with a lead of 26 points or more, said he had been instructed to lift and coast in the closing laps. He later learned the instruction was connected to the same floor issues that eventually triggered the disqualifications.

“It’s a frustrating end to today,” Norris said, adding that the team “didn’t get that balance right” but that his attention had already moved to the next race.

Piastri’s car had been visibly sparking as he fought back through the field. He called the outcome “disappointing” and said the team needed to regroup quickly. Both upcoming circuits, Lusail and Yas Marina, have traditionally suited McLaren’s car, offering a potential opportunity to recover lost points.

Disqualifications for skid block wear are uncommon but not unprecedented. Similar cases occurred at the 2023 United States Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were excluded for plank wear after a Sprint weekend compressed practice time.

Teams often warn that limited running increases the risk of incorrect ride height settings, especially on new or unusually bumpy tracks.

Las Vegas, added to the calendar in 2023, remains one of the bumpiest street circuits in modern F1 and has been associated with significant porpoising across multiple teams. McLaren’s situation reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing performance with the strict limits imposed by the current ground-effect regulations.

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