When the chequered flag waved over the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on Saturday night, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were celebrating podium-worthy finishes. By Sunday morning, they were staring at zero points. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) disqualified both McLaren Racing Limited drivers just two hours after the race ended, citing a violation of Article 3.5.9 e) — their skid blocks had worn below the 10mm legal minimum. The twist? It wasn’t a mechanical failure. It was a setup choice. And now, with just two races left, the 2025 Formula One World Championship has been turned upside down.
The Skid Block That Changed Everything
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is a beast. A 3.8-mile street track carved into the neon-lit heart of Paradise, Nevada, its newly laid asphalt is brutally abrasive — more like sandpaper than tarmac. McLaren, chasing down Max Emilian Verstappen in the standings, had dialed in an aggressive ride height to maximize downforce on the long straights. It worked… until it didn’t.
Post-race scrutineering revealed both McLaren MCL38 chassis had skid blocks measuring below 9mm — a clear breach of FIA rules. The FIA stewards issued their ruling at 10:47 PM UTC on November 23, stripping Norris of second place and Piastri of fourth. The result? Verstappen, who finished third, inherited the points. Suddenly, he’s tied with Piastri on 312 points. Norris, now without any points from Las Vegas, remains 24 behind his teammate — but that gap no longer feels like a buffer. It feels like a liability.
"We Need to Reset" — Piastri’s Raw Reaction
"Disappointing to come away from this weekend with no points after an unfortunate disqualification due to skid wear," Oscar Piastri told reporters. "With how close the grid is, we're always looking at where we can gain performance, and we didn't get it right this time. We now need to reset, refocus and push to get the best points possible in the final two rounds, both tracks that we've been strong at previously."
That last line is critical. The next race is the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit — where Piastri finished second in both 2023 and 2024. Then comes the season finale in Abu Dhabi, another track where McLaren has historically been strong. But momentum is fragile. And trust? Even more so.
McLaren’s Apology and the Weight of History
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, didn’t mince words. In a statement released less than an hour after the FIA’s ruling, he apologized directly to both drivers — "for the loss of points today at a critical time in their championship campaigns" — and to fans and sponsors. It was a rare public acknowledgment of internal failure.
"We let them down," one senior engineer told 9 News Australia, speaking off-camera. "We knew the track was rough. We had data from Friday practice showing accelerated wear. We just… didn’t adjust enough."
It’s the kind of mistake that haunts teams. McLaren’s last double disqualification? The 2014 Australian Grand Prix. Back then, it was fuel flow sensors. Now, it’s skid blocks. The pattern? High-stakes innovation, edge-case risk, and a failure to adapt when the data screams warning.
Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, was seen pacing the paddock in Las Vegas, jaw clenched. Eyewitnesses said he didn’t speak to anyone for nearly 45 minutes after the announcement. That silence spoke louder than any press release.
The Championship Domino Effect
Before Las Vegas, Piastri led Verstappen by 24 points. Norris was 24 behind Piastri. Now? Verstappen is tied with Piastri. Norris is still 24 behind — but now he’s fighting for second, not third. And Verstappen? He’s not just catching up. He’s smelling blood.
"This isn’t just about points," said former F1 engineer and pundit David Croft. "It’s about psychology. Verstappen’s team will see this as proof McLaren’s under pressure. They’ll push harder. Meanwhile, McLaren’s drivers might start second-guessing every setup decision. That’s the real danger."
The math is brutal. With 50 points available in each of the final two races, Verstappen only needs to outscore Piastri by 1 point across both events to win the title. Even if Piastri wins both, Norris must finish at least third in both races to have a shot at second place. And if Verstappen wins one and finishes second in the other? Game over.
What’s Next? Qatar and the Final Gambit
The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix arrives just six days after Las Vegas — on November 29. The Lusail International Circuit is a high-downforce, low-abrasion track. Perfect for McLaren’s strengths. But will they trust their setup? Will they play it safe, or gamble again?
"We’re not going to dial back our ambition," Stella said in a private team meeting leaked to Motorsport.com. "But we’re going to be smarter. We’ve got two races to prove we’re still champions."
That’s the pressure now. Not just to win — but to prove they’re still worthy of being called champions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the skid block violation happen?
The McLaren MCL38 cars were set with an aggressive ride height to maximize downforce on the abrasive asphalt of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. This caused the titanium skid blocks — which must remain at least 10mm thick — to wear down to under 9mm during the race. The FIA’s post-race inspection detected the breach, triggering automatic disqualification under Article 3.5.9 e) of the 2025 Technical Regulations.
Why does this hurt McLaren more than other teams?
McLaren entered Las Vegas with both drivers in the top three of the championship, separated by just 24 points. Losing 24 points between them — while Verstappen gained 18 — erased their entire buffer. Unlike teams further back, McLaren had everything to lose and nothing to gain by playing it safe. The high-stakes gamble backfired, and now they’re in a win-or-go-home scenario with two races left.
Can Lando Norris still win the championship?
No. Even if Norris wins both remaining races and Piastri scores zero, he’d still finish 24 points behind Verstappen — who is now tied with Piastri. Norris’s only realistic path is to finish second in both races while Piastri finishes third or lower, and Verstappen scores fewer than 24 points total. It’s mathematically possible, but statistically near-impossible.
What’s the significance of the Qatar Grand Prix?
The Lusail International Circuit is where Oscar Piastri claimed podium finishes in both 2023 and 2024. It’s a high-downforce track that suits the McLaren’s strengths and has less abrasive surface than Las Vegas — meaning skid wear should be manageable. A strong result here could restore confidence. A failure? It could signal the end of their title hopes.
Is this the first time skid block wear caused a disqualification in F1?
No. Skid block violations have occurred before — notably with Ferrari in 2019 and Red Bull in 2021. But this is the first time since 2014 that a team has had both drivers disqualified from the same race due to this rule. The fact that two cars from the same team, with the same setup philosophy, failed the same test suggests a systemic issue — not just bad luck.
What does this mean for McLaren’s future?
McLaren’s credibility as a title contender is now on the line. If they fail to capitalize in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, questions will arise about their technical leadership, data analysis, and risk management. Team principal Andrea Stella’s job is safe for now, but if Verstappen wins the title and McLaren finishes second — after leading for most of the season — the pressure to rebuild could become overwhelming.
