McLaren at Risk of Sensational Double Disqualification After Las Vegas Grand Prix
The Las Vegas Grand Prix may deliver one of the biggest shocks of the 2025 Formula 1 season, as McLaren finds itself in serious jeopardy of losing both of its race results. The team is facing the possibility of a double disqualification, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri under investigation for breaches of the FIA Technical Regulations.
Tension began rising in the paddock shortly after the race when unexpected signs suggested trouble at McLaren. Team principal Andrea Stella abruptly withdrew from scheduled media appearances, a rare move that immediately drew attention. Moments later, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis was spotted entering the McLaren garage, officially signalling that something significant was unfolding behind the scenes.
Those suspicions were confirmed when the FIA released a technical report authored by delegate Jo Bauer. According to the document, both McLaren cars failed a crucial post-race legality check related to the thickness of their rear skids—a component mounted to the underside of the car that ensures teams do not run their machinery too low to the ground. This plank wear rule is one of the most strictly enforced in Formula 1, and violations typically result in automatic disqualification.
Bauer’s report stated clearly that the skids on both Norris’s car (No. 04) and Piastri’s car (No. 81) were below the minimum required thickness of 9 mm, violating Article 3.5.9 (e) of the Technical Regulations. The measurement was conducted in accordance with Technical Directive TD039 M, which outlines how the legality checks must be performed.
Historically, skid plank infringements leave very little room for defence. They are usually treated as non-negotiable technical breaches, since excessive wear on the plank implies the car ran too low, which can deliver aerodynamic advantages. Famous precedents—such as Lewis Hamilton’s 2023 disqualification in Austin and Michael Schumacher’s in 1994—show that teams almost never escape penalties in such cases.
If the FIA follows precedent, both McLaren drivers would be removed from the race classification. The consequences for the championship fight would be enormous. Lando Norris, who has been leading the title race, would see his advantage dramatically cut. Max Verstappen, who finished behind Norris in Las Vegas, would be elevated in the standings and move to within just 24 points of the McLaren star. For Oscar Piastri, the penalty would be equally significant, as Verstappen would draw level with him on points, tightening the battle for second place in the drivers’ standings.
Beyond the championship implications, the potential double disqualification would also cause major shifts in the race result itself. Perhaps the biggest beneficiary would be rising Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who delivered one of the standout performances of the evening. Starting all the way down in 17th position, the young Italian carved his way through the field with an exceptional display of pace and composure.
Over the final laps, Antonelli found himself under heavy pressure from both Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Despite running on tyres that were significantly more worn than those of his rivals, he managed to produce a string of superb lap times, slowly stretching a five-second gap over Leclerc. If McLaren’s results are nullified, Antonelli would be promoted onto the podium—an extraordinary achievement for a teenager still early in his F1 career.
McLaren’s garage is expectedly tense as the team prepares its response to the FIA findings. While teams sometimes attempt to argue mitigating circumstances such as track bumps or unexpected setup effects, the FIA traditionally treats skid wear violations as clear-cut. The strictness is intended to maintain fairness, as running the car too low can yield major aerodynamic advantages through increased ground-effect downforce.
The FIA’s statement summarized the issue:
“The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission in accordance with TD039 M, item 1.2 b) i). The measured thickness was less than 9 mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required by TR Article 3.5.9 e).”
A final ruling from the stewards is expected soon, and if the disqualification is confirmed, it will send shockwaves through both the championship standings and the broader F1 paddock. With the title race finely poised and momentum shifting between teams, the Las Vegas Grand Prix may become a decisive turning point in the 2025 season.
