If there is one thing Formula 1 fans love almost as much as the wheel-to-wheel action on the track, it is the petty, hilarious, and often revealing drama that unfolds off it. The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix will undoubtedly go down in history for Max Verstappen’s masterclass victory and the championship implications of a wet-and-wild weekend, but for the internet, the real winner was Carlos Sainz. Or, as he is now affectionately being hailed once again: “Inspector Carlos.”
In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, nothing escapes the eagle eyes of the drivers, and this weekend, Sainz proved that his attention to detail is second to none. Footage captured by fans and broadcast cameras in Parc Fermé immediately after the race showed the Williams driver engaging in some very suspicious—and in hindsight, prophetic—behavior.
The Return of “Inspector” Energy
Long-time F1 enthusiasts will remember the days of “Inspector Seb,” a nickname bestowed upon four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who had a habit of lingering in Parc Fermé to closely examine, touch, and even sniff his rivals’ cars. It was a quirk that endeared him to fans and showcased the intense technical curiosity of elite drivers.
On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Carlos Sainz channeled that exact energy.
After crossing the line in a hard-fought P7 for Williams—a result that capped off a brilliant weekend where he started P3 after a stunning wet qualifying session—Sainz didn’t just head straight to the weigh-in. Instead, video clips show the Spaniard crouching low, walking slowly around the cars of his competitors, and paying particular attention to the rear and underbody of the McLaren MCL39s of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
At the time, it looked like standard driver curiosity. Drivers often peek at floor edges and diffuser designs to see what the top teams are doing. But just hours later, that innocent inspection took on a legendary status.
The Midnight Bombshell: McLaren’s Double Disqualification
While the champagne was drying and the teams were packing up their freight for the trip to Qatar, the FIA stewards dropped a bombshell that shook the paddock: Both Lando Norris (who finished P2) and Oscar Piastri (P4) were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The reason? A technical infringement related to the skid blocks—the wooden planks underneath the car that measure ride height and wear.
According to the official FIA report, the rearmost skid blocks on both McLaren cars were measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm required by the Technical Regulations. In a sport measured in thousandths of a second and millimeters of tolerance, this was a slam-dunk breach. There are no gray areas with plank wear; if it is too thin, you are out.
Suddenly, Sainz’s Parc Fermé “inspection” wasn’t just funny; it looked like an investigation. Social media erupted with memes suggesting that Sainz, with his cursory glance at the rear of the McLarens, had somehow diagnosed the excessive wear before the FIA technical delegates even got their calipers out.
“He knew!” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Carlos took one look at that floor and called the FIA himself!” joked another.
Of course, it is highly unlikely Sainz could actually measure millimeter-level wear with his naked eye from a crouching distance, but the timing could not have been more perfect. It added a layer of comedic mystique to a devastating blow for his former team.
A Huge Boost for Williams (and Sainz)
The irony of the situation is that Sainz didn’t just observe the misfortune of his rivals; he directly benefited from it.
Sainz’s move to Williams for the 2025 season was seen by many as a gamble, a step down from Ferrari. Yet, throughout the year, he has consistently dragged the FW47 into positions it arguably had no business being in. The Las Vegas weekend was a prime example. In treacherous, slippery conditions during qualifying, Sainz was electric, putting his Williams P3 on the grid.
In the race, he fought valiantly against faster machinery. While he eventually fell back to P7 on the road, managing his tires and fuel to the end, the double disqualification of the McLarens vaulted him up the order. When the dust settled and the official classification was updated, Carlos Sainz was classified P5.
This result is massive for Williams. In the tight midfield battle for the Constructors’ Championship, a P5 finish brings a haul of points that could secure millions in prize money. It validates the team’s progress and Sainz’s leadership role within the Grove-based outfit.
The Championship Shockwaves
While fans laughed at “Inspector Carlos,” the mood in the McLaren hospitality unit was undoubtedly somber. The double DSQ is a catastrophic blow to Lando Norris’s title hopes.
Going into the race, Norris was desperately trying to claw back points against Max Verstappen. Finishing P2 on the road behind Verstappen was already a damage-limitation result, but receiving zero points while Verstappen takes the full 25 for the win (plus the psychological edge) essentially puts the championship out of reach with only two rounds remaining.
The skid wear issue likely stemmed from the unique challenges of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The high speeds, combined with the bumps of a street track and the specific setup compromises teams must make, can lead to higher-than-expected plank consumption. McLaren, in their pursuit of maximum performance to catch Red Bull, seemingly flew too close to the sun—or rather, too close to the asphalt.
A Night to Remember
The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered on every front. We had the glitz and glamour of the Strip, the chaos of a rain-affected practice and qualifying, a commanding drive from the reigning champion, and a post-race technical drama that rewrote the history books.
But amidst the serious analysis and the championship math, it is the image of Carlos Sainz—hands on knees, peering intently at the back of a McLaren under the neon lights—that will endure as the defining meme of the weekend.
It serves as a reminder that in Formula 1, the race isn’t over when the checkered flag waves. The cars still have to pass the scrutiny of the scrutineers… and apparently, the scrutiny of Inspector Carlos.
As the circus moves to Qatar for the penultimate round, one thing is certain: if you see Carlos Sainz looking at your car in Parc Fermé, you might want to double-check your measurements. He might just know something you don’t.
