In a sport defined by milliseconds and razor-thin margins, the 2025 Formula 1 season has just delivered its most seismic shock yet. As the dust settled on the glittering Las Vegas Strip, and the neon lights dimmed on what was supposed to be a pivotal night for McLaren, the FIA dropped a bombshell that has completely rewritten the narrative of the championship battle.

In a devastating turn of events that no one saw coming, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix results. The reason? Excessive wear on the skid blocks—the wooden planks underneath the cars—violating the strict technical regulations regarding ride height and floor durability. This catastrophic double disqualification has stripped the Woking-based team of a massive points haul and, more crucially, has blown the driver’s championship wide open, leaving Max Verstappen with a lifeline that seemed impossible just hours ago.

The Midnight Shock

The race itself was already a spectacle of tension and strategy. Fans watching the closing stages were left baffled by Lando Norris’s peculiar pace. The Briton was observed lifting and coasting aggressively, bleeding three to four seconds to Mercedes’ George Russell in the final laps. At the time, the paddock was rife with speculation: Was it a fuel sample issue? Was the engine critically overheating?

The reality, however, was far more mechanical and brutal. The sparks that had been flying spectacularly from the bottom of the MCL38s throughout the race were not just for show; they were the visible signs of a car bottoming out violently against the bumpy Vegas tarmac. The excessive friction wore down the skid blocks beyond the legal limit, a breach that leaves the stewards with no alternative but disqualification.

This ruling is a nightmare scenario for McLaren. To lose one car to a technical infringement is a setback; to lose both is a sporting disaster of historic proportions. It echoes the pain felt by Ferrari earlier in the season in China, where they too fell foul of the plank wear regulations. But for this to happen in Las Vegas, at the business end of the season with a title on the line, is a pill that will be incredibly bitter to swallow for Andrea Stella and his team.

A Gamble Gone Wrong

So, how did a team as precise and disciplined as McLaren get it so wrong? The answer likely lies in the unique and treacherous nature of the Las Vegas street circuit, compounded by a weekend of disrupted preparation.

The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend was plagued by inclement weather during the Free Practice sessions. Rain washed out crucial running time, meaning teams went into the Grand Prix with limited data on dry setups. In the high-stakes world of F1, setup is everything. Teams must calculate the perfect ride height—low enough to generate maximum downforce and speed, but high enough to avoid wearing away the plank on the circuit’s bumps.

It appears McLaren gambled. In a bid to extract every ounce of performance to seal the championship, they likely ran the cars too low. The Las Vegas Strip, while fast, is notoriously bumpy. Combined with the immense compressive forces on the long straights, the floor of the McLaren cars was being ground down lap after lap. The virtual safety car periods, which usually offer a reprieve for tires and fuel, were not enough to save the floor. Even when not pushing to the absolute limit, the ride height proved to be critically misjudged.

The Championship Picture: Max is Still Alive

The implications of this disqualification are nothing short of earth-shattering. Before the stewards’ decision, Lando Norris looked to have one hand on the trophy. Now, the mathematics have shifted violently.

Max Verstappen, who seemed destined to relinquish his crown, is now just 24 points behind Norris. In the modern points system, a 24-point gap is nothing. It is a single race win. The “comfortable” buffer Norris enjoyed has evaporated, replaced by the suffocating pressure of a resurgent Red Bull rival who now has nothing to lose.

The disqualification puts a “crazy twist” on the battle, as noted by paddock insiders. Max Verstappen has been handed a gift, but it is a gift he must now exploit. The momentum, which had been firmly papaya-colored, is now up for grabs.

Looking Ahead: Qatar and Abu Dhabi

With the Vegas drama behind us, all eyes turn to the final double-header in the Middle East: Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The characteristics of these remaining tracks add another layer of intrigue to this resurrected title fight.

Qatar, with its high-speed corners and smooth surface, is expected to favor the Red Bull package. If the RB21 can find its sweet spot, Verstappen could easily claw back significant points, potentially taking the title fight down to the very last lap of the season. The mandatory two-stop strategy in Qatar, often enforced due to tire life concerns, allows drivers to push flat out—a scenario where Red Bull often thrives.

However, Abu Dhabi remains a stronghold for McLaren. The Yas Marina Circuit requires exceptional tire management, an area where the McLaren has been superior all season. The car’s ability to look after its rubber in the twisty third sector while maintaining pace on the straights makes them the favorites for the finale. But as Vegas proved, being the favorite guarantees nothing if the car isn’t legal at the checkered flag.

A Season for the Ages

This double disqualification will go down as one of the most dramatic moments in F1 history. It serves as a brutal reminder that in Formula 1, to finish first, first you must finish—and pass scrutineering.

For McLaren, the debrief will be painful. They must pick themselves up immediately, ensure their calculations for Qatar are bulletproof, and help Lando Norris reset psychologically. The championship he has worked so hard for is slipping, not because of his driving, but because of a millimeter of composite material.

For the fans, this is the scenario we dream of. The championship is not over. The battle is fierce, the margins are nonexistent, and the drama is absolute. As we head to the desert, one question remains: Can Lando Norris hold on, or has the Las Vegas gamble gifted Max Verstappen the greatest comeback in modern F1 history?

Buckle up. The road to Abu Dhabi just got a whole lot bumpier.