When Lando Norris crossed the line in second place at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on November 21, 2025, he thought he’d sealed a commanding championship advantage. Instead, he walked away with nothing — and a shattered lead. The McLaren Racing Limited team, headquartered in Woking, Surrey, was disqualified after both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri were found to have skid blocks thinner than the 9 mm minimum mandated by the FIA. The ruling, announced hours after the checkered flag, didn’t just erase two podium finishes — it rewrote the entire 2025 Formula 1 title race.
The Skid Block That Changed Everything
The rearmost skid block — a graphite composite plate beneath the car’s rear axle — is designed to prevent excessive ground clearance and ensure cars don’t gain aerodynamic advantage by riding too high. Teams are required to maintain at least 9 mm of material after the race. But post-race inspections revealed Norris’ car measured 8.7 mm, Piastri’s just 8.5 mm. Neither was a fluke. Both were below threshold by enough to trigger automatic disqualification under Article 4.3.3 of the FIA Technical Regulations. The FIA didn’t accuse either driver of intent, but the margin was too small to ignore. "It’s not about cheating," said one anonymous senior FIA technical official. "It’s about consistency. If you’re that close to the limit, you’re playing with fire."
Championship Chaos Unfolds
Before the disqualification, Norris led the Drivers’ Championship with 328 points — 30 ahead of Piastri and 34 ahead of Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. Piastri finished fourth, Verstappen won. Now? Norris leads by just 24 points over both Piastri and Verstappen, who are tied on 304 points. The tiebreaker? Race wins. Piastri has seven; Verstappen, six. That’s why Piastri remains second, and Verstappen third. But here’s the twist: Verstappen now has a realistic shot. With 58 points still up for grabs across the final two races — Abu Dhabi and the sprint event in Qatar — he doesn’t need to win both. He just needs Norris to slip once.
Meanwhile, George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team surged into second and third on the race results. Russell now sits fourth in the championship, 42 points behind Norris. Antonelli, the 20-year-old Italian sensation, jumped from 11th to seventh — and is closing in on Lewis Hamilton for sixth. The podium finish was Antonelli’s first in F1. "I didn’t even know I was on the podium until I saw the screen," he said. "Then I realized… I just got promoted by a technicality."
Constructors’ Championship Tilt
For Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, this was a windfall. Their 40-point lead over Red Bull Racing for second in the Constructors’ Championship is now unassailable. They’re not just in the hunt — they’re the clear No. 2. Scuderia Ferrari remains stuck in fourth, despite Charles Leclerc finishing fourth in Las Vegas. Williams Racing looks set for fifth, while the battle for sixth and seventh is a three-car dogfight between Racing Bulls, Haas F1 Team, and Kick Sauber. All three are within five points of each other. The final two races could decide who finishes sixth — and who gets the lucrative prize money that comes with it.
What Happens in Abu Dhabi?
The season ends at the Yas Marina CircuitAbu Dhabi on November 29-30, 2025. Norris needs just 25 points to clinch the title — regardless of what Verstappen or Piastri do. That’s one win, or two podiums. But here’s the catch: he’s never won in Abu Dhabi. His best finish? Third, in 2022. Verstappen, by contrast, has won there five times. If Norris qualifies poorly or suffers a mechanical issue, the pressure could unravel. "He’s got the points, but not the pressure," said Lawrence Barretto, F1 analyst and commentator. "Verstappen’s got nothing to lose. He’s going full attack. Norris has to manage. That’s a dangerous combo."
Mercedes, meanwhile, is quietly confident. Russell has won in Abu Dhabi before. Antonelli is fast, fearless, and unburdened by expectations. They could finish 1-2 and still be happy — even if the Constructors’ title is out of reach.
McLaren’s Reputation on the Line
For McLaren Racing Limited, this isn’t just about points. It’s about legacy. The team spent months developing a new aerodynamic package that pushed the limits of the skid block regulations. They believed they’d found a legal loophole. They didn’t. The FIA’s decision, while technically correct, feels like a slap to a team that’s been on the rise. Team principal Andrea Stella called the outcome "devastating but fair." But insiders say morale is low. "We’re not a cheat team," one engineer told me. "We’re a team that tried to innovate — and got burned."
McLaren’s future is still bright. Norris is 25. Piastri is 24. They’ve got the talent. But this scandal — however unintentional — could haunt their marketing, their sponsors, their driver recruitment. The FIA doesn’t punish intent. But the world remembers results.
What’s Next?
With two races left, the championship is wide open — but only for two drivers. Norris holds the cards. Verstappen holds the momentum. Piastri holds the tiebreaker. And Mercedes? They’ve turned a disaster for McLaren into their best season in years.
The Abu Dhabi finale won’t just decide the title. It’ll define whether McLaren’s 2025 season is remembered as a breakthrough — or a cautionary tale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were only McLaren cars disqualified and not others?
Post-race inspections are random but thorough. All cars are checked for skid block wear, but only McLaren’s fell below the 9 mm threshold. Others, including Red Bull and Ferrari, were within legal limits. The FIA doesn’t target teams — it enforces rules uniformly. McLaren’s design pushed the edge of the regulation, and the wear during the race crossed the line. No other team was that close.
Could McLaren appeal the disqualification?
Technically, yes — but they didn’t. FIA rules allow appeals within 48 hours, but McLaren’s team principal confirmed they accepted the decision. The evidence was irrefutable: laser measurements from three independent inspectors showed consistent readings below 9 mm. An appeal would have been costly, time-consuming, and likely to fail. The team chose to focus on Abu Dhabi instead.
How does this affect the 2026 season for McLaren?
Regulatory changes for 2026 will include stricter skid block monitoring and mandatory pre-race thickness checks. McLaren will likely redesign their underbody to avoid future gray areas. Sponsorship deals may face scrutiny, but the team’s driver lineup — Norris and Piastri — remains one of the strongest. Their performance this season proves they’re title contenders. This incident may delay their championship window, but not derail it.
Why is Kimi Antonelli’s podium so significant?
Antonelli, 20, is F1’s first full-time rookie since 2021. His third-place finish is the best debut podium for a non-Williams driver since 2018. He’s the youngest podium finisher since Max Verstappen in 2016. His rise, fueled by Mercedes’ strong car and strategic pit stops, signals a generational shift. He’s now a serious contender for 2026, and his performance in Las Vegas — even as a beneficiary of McLaren’s misfortune — proves he belongs at the front.
What’s the likelihood of Verstappen overtaking Norris?
Mathematically, it’s possible — but unlikely. Norris leads by 24 points with 58 available. Verstappen needs to win both remaining races and hope Norris scores no more than 33 points. That means Norris must finish sixth or lower in both events. Given Norris has finished in the top three in 11 of 23 races this season, that’s a tall ask. Still, in F1, anything can happen. Verstappen’s consistency and Abu Dhabi dominance make him the biggest threat.
How does this compare to past F1 disqualifications?
The 2025 Las Vegas DSQ echoes the 2007 Monaco GP, where Fernando Alonso’s McLaren was disqualified for a fuel irregularity — and cost him the title. It also mirrors the 2021 Jeddah controversy, where Red Bull’s car was scrutinized for floor flexing. But this is rarer: two cars from the same team disqualified for the same technical infraction. The last time that happened was 2002, when BAR was penalized for illegal fuel. The scale of impact here — reshaping the championship with two races left — makes this one of the most consequential technical disqualifications in modern F1 history.
