Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to a technical infringement. Following the night race in Sin City, both McLaren cars failed post-race technical checks, prompting officials to summon Norris and Piastri for further investigation.
Upon examination, FIA scrutineers found that the planks under the McLaren vehicles were thinner than the mandated 9mm minimum thickness at the end of the race. This indicated that the cars were running with an unlawfully low ride height, resulting in their disqualification from the final standings.
The disqualification significantly impacts the drivers’ championship race, as Max Verstappen emerged victorious in the Las Vegas event. With Norris and Piastri’s results nullified, Verstappen now shares the same points as the Australian driver and trails championship leader Norris by 24 points with two races remaining.
Both McLaren drivers attended a hearing with stewards, commencing at 7:45 am UK time and lasting over an hour. The final decision was announced close to 2 am local time, more than four hours after the Grand Prix concluded.
Norris, who initially finished second after starting from pole position but later fell behind Verstappen and George Russell, expressed disappointment in his performance before learning of his disqualification. Despite attempting to regain his position, Norris acknowledged the superior pace of Red Bull and admitted his own errors during the race.
Looking ahead, Norris aims to bounce back in the upcoming races and enhance McLaren’s competitiveness on the track.