BREAKING: McLaren Drivers Norris and Piastri Disqualified from Las Vegas GP

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, wiping out McLaren's strong second and fourth-place finishes due to a technical infringement regarding plank thickness. This marks a significant blow for the team and impacts the Drivers' Championship with two races remaining.

Why it matters:

• McLaren's double disqualification in Las Vegas is a major setback, costing them crucial points and significantly altering the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships standings. The incident underscores the FIA's strict enforcement of technical regulations, even for minor infringements.
• This ruling could tighten the fight for top positions in the Drivers' Championship, as Norris's lead is reduced, while impacting McLaren's overall standing in the constructors' battle.

The details:

• Both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were disqualified after post-race scrutineering revealed that the plank thickness on their cars was less than the mandated nine millimeters, a clear breach of the technical regulations.
• A team representative and both drivers were summoned, but the technical breach's straightforward nature left little room for argument against disqualification.
• This incident mirrors Lewis Hamilton's disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year for the same technical infringement.
• Norris had finished second and Piastri fourth in a highly competitive race on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, results that are now voided.
• In the race's closing stages, Norris experienced a significant drop in pace, finishing over 20 seconds behind Max Verstappen, which he attributed to an emerging issue, likely fuel-related requiring extensive lift and coast.
• Despite earlier concerns about fuel samples, the disqualifications were based solely on the plank thickness issue.

The big picture:

McLaren's disqualification highlights the fine margins and stringent technical checks in Formula 1. Even minor deviations from regulations can lead to severe penalties, regardless of on-track performance. This incident adds another layer of drama to an already exciting season, particularly for the Drivers' Championship where the points gaps are now tighter.

What's next:

With two race weekends remaining, the impact of these disqualifications will be closely watched. Norris's lead in the Drivers' Championship has shrunk to 24 points over both Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, who are now tied at 366 points to Norris's 390. This unexpected turn of events sets the stage for a more intense battle in the final races of the season.