Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to a technical violation. Following the night race in Sin City, McLaren cars failed post-race technical inspections, prompting Norris and Piastri to face the stewards.
FIA scrutineers found that the planks under the McLaren cars were thinner than the required 9mm minimum at the end of the race. This indicated that the cars were running with an illegally low ride height, resulting in their disqualification from the final classification.
The disqualification has significant implications for the drivers’ championship race, as Max Verstappen emerged victorious in Las Vegas. With Norris and Piastri losing their results, Verstappen now shares the same points as Piastri and trails championship leader Norris by 24 points with two rounds remaining.
Both McLaren drivers attended a hearing with the stewards, which commenced at 7.45am UK time and lasted for over an hour. The final decision was announced around 2am local time, more than four hours after the Grand Prix concluded.
Norris, who initially finished second after starting on pole but yielding to Verstappen at the first corner, expressed disappointment with his performance before learning of his disqualification. Despite attempting to regain positions, he acknowledged the superior pace of Red Bull and the challenges ahead in the championship battle.
Looking ahead, Norris aims to bounce back in the remaining races after reflecting on his performance in Las Vegas. He plans to take a short break to recharge before focusing on the upcoming race in Qatar.