McLaren Disqualified from Las Vegas GP, Apologizes to Drivers

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has issued an apology to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to excessive wear on the rearmost skid blocks. The team cited unexpected porpoising and accidental damage during the race as contributing factors, leading to a critical loss of points.

Why it matters:

• The disqualification reshuffles the championship standings, intensifying the title fight as Max Verstappen now sits level with Piastri, both 24 points behind Norris with 58 points still up for grabs in the final two rounds.
• This incident highlights the razor-thin margins and strict technical regulations in Formula 1, where even minor technical infringements, regardless of intent, can have significant consequences on race results and championship battles.
• It underscores the complex interplay between car performance, aerodynamics (like porpoising), and the durability of components under race conditions, especially on new tracks with unexpected surface characteristics.

The Details:

• Technical Infringement: Post-race checks revealed that both McLaren cars' rearmost skid blocks had worn below the mandatory 9mm thickness, with measurements as low as 8.88mm and 8.93mm.
• Team's Explanation: Andrea Stella explained that both cars experienced "unexpected, high levels of porpoising not seen in practice sessions," which caused excessive contact with the ground. He also noted that post-race checks revealed damage that "led to an increase of movement of the floor."
• FIA Acknowledgment: Stewards acknowledged McLaren's explanation, agreeing there was "no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and mitigating circumstances also existed." However, they still applied the standard penalty of disqualification.
• Driver Reactions: Both Oscar Piastri, who initially finished fourth, and Lando Norris expressed significant disappointment. Piastri stated, "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." Norris's late-race issues, initially thought to be fuel concerns, were attributed to the car's issues leading to the disqualification.

What's next:

McLaren faces the challenge of regrouping quickly for the final two rounds of the season. The team will need to ensure their cars are fully compliant and competitive to recover from this points loss and solidify their positions in the constructors' and drivers' championships. Both drivers emphasized resetting and refocusing to maximize points in the upcoming races.