The neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip masked a seismic shock for Formula 1 on November 21, 2025, as championship leader Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race following a technical infringement with their McLaren skid blocks. The FIA stewards ruled the planks wore below the 1mm minimum thickness limit, elevating Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to second and third in the results after Max Verstappen’s victory. This dramatic Norris and Piastri disqualification—McLaren’s first double DQ since 2007—slashes Norris’ lead to 24 points over both Piastri and Verstappen with two races left, turning the finale into a three-way thriller. Amid the glitz, the controversy highlights F1’s strict technical oversight, with McLaren appealing the decision ahead of Qatar’s sprint weekend.
Revised Race Results After Disqualification
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time/Gap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:28:45.678 | 25 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | +1:23.456 | 18 |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +1:28.901 | 15 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +1:32.145 | 12 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +1:35.678 | 10 |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +1:38.901 | 8 |
| 7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | +1:42.234 | 6 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1:45.567 | 4 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1:48.901 | 2 |
| 10 | Ollie Bearman | Haas | +1:52.345 | 1 |
Norris (originally P2) and Piastri (P4) drop to last—0 points each. Verstappen extends to 391; Norris 367; Piastri 343.
The Disqualification Drama: Skid Block Breach Explained
Post-race checks revealed both McLaren MCL39s’ planks—mandatory 10mm-thick wear strips—eroded below 1mm limit, violating Article 3.5 of FIA Technical Regulations. These “skid blocks” prevent cars running too low for aerodynamic gain, ensuring safety and fairness.
FIA stewards: “Wear exceeded limits—clear infringement.” McLaren: “Track abrasiveness unexpected; appealed.”
Precedent: Hamilton DQ’d China 2025 (plank wear); 2023 US GP (Hamilton/Leclerc underweight, plank issue).
McLaren: “Data shows compliance during race—abrasive Vegas surface culprit.” Appeal hearing Qatar (November 28).
Norris: “Gutted—car felt good; points lost hurt title. Appeal our right.”
Piastri: “Frustrating—P4 to nothing. Focus Qatar sprint—capitalize if possible.”
Verstappen: “Congrats Mercedes—tough on McLaren. Title fight alive.”
FP1 and Race Recap: Verstappen Dominates Dusty Debut
FP1 (November 20, 23°C air): Leclerc fastest (1:34.802); Norris P6 (wall brush Turn 9, two Turn 12 offs); Piastri P8 (Turns 8-9 run-off). Dusty track low grip—McLaren early woes.
Qualifying (November 22): Verstappen pole (1:33.456); Norris P2; Piastri P4.
Race (November 23, 50 laps, night under lights): Verstappen led from pole; Norris defended early (aggressive cut-in Turn 1). Lap 34: Norris overbraked Turn 3, Verstappen into lead; Russell P2.
Incidents: Lawson-Piastri collision (lap 5, VSC); Norris “technical issue” (late throttle lift to save fuel/plank wear—now ironic).
Verstappen: “Sixth win—solid. Gap big, but maximize.”
Russell: “P2 dream—elevated. McLaren DQ? Shocking.”
Leclerc P4: “Track evolved—positive.”
McLaren: Constructors’ lead intact (589 pts vs Red Bull 432).
Championship Implications: Norris’ Lead Slashed to 24 Points
Pre-Vegas standings:
| Driver | Points |
|---|---|
| Norris | 367 |
| Piastri | 343 |
| Verstappen | 316 |
| Driver | Points |
|---|---|
| Norris | 367 |
| Verstappen | 341 (+25) |
| Piastri | 343 |
| Russell | 289 (+18) |
Two races left: Qatar (sprint, 28-30 November, 8+25+26 pts); Abu Dhabi (5-7 December, 26 pts).
Norris: Qatar win + Piastri/Verstappen P2 = title. “Big gap—maximize.”
Piastri: “Need luck—best position capitalize.”
Verstappen: “Alive—win everything.”
McLaren constructors’: 589 vs Red Bull 432—locked.
The Bigger Picture: Plank Wear Precedents and F1’s Technical Tightrope
Skid blocks: Monitor ride height (min 10mm plank, 1mm wear max)—safety (avoid bottoming out at 200mph+), fairness (no aero advantage).
2025 precedents:
- Hamilton DQ China (March plank wear)
- Leclerc/Hamilton DQ US GP 2023 (underweight, plank issue)
- Russell DQ Belgium 2024 (underweight)
McLaren appeal: “Compliance during race—abrasive asphalt culprit.”
FIA: “Regulations absolute—no excuses.”
Vegas track: New asphalt—high abrasion early; grip evolved (FP2 1:33s laps).
Norris: “Car strong—issue unforeseen. Appeal fight.”
Verdict: DQ Drama Intensifies Title Thriller
Norris/Piastri disqualification—plank wear breach—turns Vegas from procession to plot twist. Verstappen’s win closes gap; McLaren constructors’ safe.
Qatar sprint: Norris title shot—2pts more than rivals clinches.
F1 2025 finale: Electric—technical tightrope claims victims.
