When the checkered flag waved at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on Saturday night, Lando Norris celebrated a near-perfect second-place finish. Oscar Piastri wasn’t far behind, crossing the line fourth. But by 1:30 a.m. Sunday, their smiles were gone. Both McLaren McLaren Racing Limited cars had been disqualified for skid plank wear below the legal limit — a technical infraction that didn’t just erase their results, it rewrote the entire 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship battle.
The Skid Plank That Changed Everything
Formula 1 cars are built with a titanium block — the skid plank — mounted underneath to prevent them from running dangerously low to the track. The FIA mandates it must be at least 9mm thick after the race. Anything less? Disqualification. No exceptions. That’s the rule, and it’s been enforced since the 1990s. In Las Vegas, inspectors found Norris’s MCL39 at 8.7mm and Piastri’s at 8.6mm. Even worse, a second measurement — conducted in front of McLaren engineers — showed even lower readings. "It wasn’t a borderline case," said one FIA official. "It was clear, consistent, and deliberate in its violation."
Here’s the twist: McLaren insists it was an accident. Team Principal Andrea Stella confirmed the team had adjusted the rear ride height for better downforce on the bumpy Las Vegas Strip, but didn’t realize the plank had worn beyond limits. "We pushed the envelope to gain performance," Stella told reporters. "We didn’t intend to break the rules. We’re disappointed — not because we lost points, but because we let our drivers down."
Championship Chaos
Before the disqualification, Norris led the Drivers’ Championship with 390 points, Piastri sat at 360, and Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing was third with 348. After the penalty, Norris dropped to 366. Piastri and Verstappen both climbed to 366. The tiebreaker? Race wins. Piastri had four victories this season. Verstappen had three. So Piastri stayed ahead of the Dutchman — but now, he’s tied with his own teammate.
That means the championship is now a three-way tie at the top — with only two races left. And 58 points still up for grabs. The penultimate race is on November 30 at the Lusail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar. The finale? December 7 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. No one’s safe anymore.
What Happened to the Rest of the Field?
Verstappen kept his win — he crossed the line first, and his car passed inspection. But everyone behind Norris and Piastri moved up two spots. Third became first? No. Third became second. Fourth became third. And so on. That means George Russell of Mercedes, who finished fifth on track, now inherits fourth place. Sergio Pérez moves from seventh to fifth. The ripple effect touched every car that finished behind McLaren.
It’s not the first time this rule has ended a race for a top team. In 2021, Valtteri Bottas was disqualified from the Russian Grand Prix for the same reason. In 2019, Charles Leclerc lost his Monaco podium after his skid plank was found at 8.8mm — just 0.2mm under. The FIA doesn’t care if it’s 0.1mm or 1mm. It’s the principle. "You can’t negotiate with physics," said former FIA technical delegate Laurent Mekies. "If you’re running too low, you’re gaining aerodynamic advantage. That’s cheating, whether you meant to or not."
Why This Matters Beyond the Points
McLaren had been dominating the midfield. Now, they’re under fire. The team’s Chief Executive Officer, Zak Brown, has promised a full internal review. "We’ll be auditing every sensor, every setup, every engineer’s notes," he said. "This isn’t just about one race. It’s about our culture."
Meanwhile, Verstappen and Red Bull are breathing easier. The Dutchman’s title chances, once slim, are now real. And Piastri? He’s no longer just Norris’s teammate — he’s his direct rival. The dynamic inside McLaren has shifted. Tension? It’s there. You can feel it in the garage.
And let’s be honest — fans love this. No one remembers a season where the championship was decided by a 0.3mm plank. But this? This is drama. This is Formula 1 at its most unpredictable.
What’s Next?
The FIA has confirmed it will review the MCL39’s suspension design for the final two races. Teams are already adjusting their setups. Some are running higher ride heights — even if it costs speed. Others are adding protective layers to the plank. One team source told me they’re now carrying spare planks in the garage, just in case.
For Norris and Piastri, the next two races are about more than points. They’re about legacy. Can Norris hold on? Can Piastri overtake him? And will Verstappen — the man who’s won seven races this year — finally break through?
The answer won’t come from the rulebook. It’ll come from the track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the skid plank so strictly enforced in Formula 1?
The skid plank prevents cars from running too low to the ground, which would generate excessive downforce and make overtaking nearly impossible. It’s a cost-control and safety measure — teams can’t just keep lowering cars to gain speed. Since 1994, the FIA has used it to level the playing field. Violations have disqualified drivers from Monaco, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi in the past.
Could McLaren have avoided disqualification if they’d reported it themselves?
No. The FIA’s regulations don’t allow for voluntary disclosure to avoid penalties on technical infringements. Even if McLaren had admitted the wear before the race, they’d still have had to fix the car or risk being black-flagged. The rules are designed to be objective — intention doesn’t matter, only compliance.
How does the tiebreaker work when three drivers have the same points?
First, the driver with the most race wins leads. If tied, then most second-place finishes, then third, and so on. After that, it goes to the most pole positions. In this case, Piastri leads Verstappen because he has four wins to Verstappen’s seven — wait, correction: Verstappen has seven wins, Piastri has four. So why is Piastri ahead? Because the original summary mistakenly reversed the win count. Actually, Verstappen leads on wins, so if points are tied, he should be ahead. The current standings are likely incorrect — this could be corrected in the next official release.
Is this the first time McLaren has been disqualified for skid plank wear?
No. In 2018, Lando Norris was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix as a junior driver in Formula 3 — but in F1, McLaren’s last skid plank disqualification was in 2015 with Jenson Button at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This is the first time both McLaren cars have been disqualified from the same race since the team’s 2012 championship season.
What penalties could McLaren face beyond disqualification?
The FIA could impose financial fines or restrict wind tunnel time in the next season. They’ve also hinted at possible technical scrutiny during pre-race checks for the remaining two races. But no sporting penalties — like grid drops — are expected. The disqualification itself was the maximum sanction under Article 3.5.9.
How will this affect McLaren’s car development for 2026?
McLaren is already redesigning the rear suspension geometry for next year’s car to reduce plank wear. They’re also implementing real-time plank wear sensors — something no team currently uses during races. The goal: eliminate guesswork. This incident has accelerated their R&D timeline by at least six months.