McLaren's Microscopic Plank Wear DQ Boosts Verstappen's Title Chances

Just hours after Lando Norris crossed the finish line in second place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, both his McLaren and teammate Oscar Piastri's car were disqualified. The reason: excessive wear on the plank, a composite strip on the underside of an F1 car, exceeding the permitted amount by a mere 0.12 mm for Norris and 0.26 mm for Piastri. This minute infringement, equivalent to the width of a human hair, stripped McLaren of crucial points, dramatically tightening the championship battle and bringing Max Verstappen back into contention.

Why it matters:

• This disqualification significantly impacts the F1 championship fight, particularly for Lando Norris, who saw his lead over Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen shrink considerably.
• A technicality as small as plank wear can have massive consequences, highlighting the stringent regulations and the razor-edge performance limits F1 teams operate within.
• The incident underscores the challenges teams face in balancing maximum aerodynamic performance with strict regulatory compliance, especially on new or bumpy tracks.

The Details:

• Infringement: Both McLaren cars, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were disqualified due to excessive plank wear, exceeding the 9 mm minimum depth limit.
  • Norris' car had two of four measurement holes below 9 mm, with wear 0.12 mm over the limit.
  • Piastri's car had three of four measurement holes below 9 mm, with wear 0.26 mm over the limit.
• Plank Function: The plank ensures a minimum ride height, preventing cars from running too low, which can be dangerous and provide an unfair aerodynamic advantage.
• Stewards' View: The FIA stewards acknowledged the breach was "unintentional" and not a deliberate attempt to circumvent regulations, but technical rules leave no margin for error.
• McLaren's Justification: McLaren cited "unexpected, high levels of porpoising" during the race, which wasn't observed in practice, leading to increased ground contact.
  • The team also mentioned limited practice time in Las Vegas due to red flags and a partially wet final session, hindering data collection on plank wear.
  • Accidental damage sustained by both cars during the race, leading to increased floor movement, was also noted as a contributing factor.
• In-Race Management: Norris was instructed by his race engineer to lift off the throttle at the end of straights to reduce aerodynamic load and minimize floor wear, but these efforts proved insufficient.

The big picture:

Running F1 cars as low as possible maximizes ground effect, generating significant downforce. Teams constantly fine-tune ride height during practice, aiming to balance aerodynamic gains with legal plank wear. Bumpy tracks increase wear, and engineers typically err on the side of caution due to disqualification risks. However, the unique circumstances of the Las Vegas GP, including limited track time and unexpected porpoising, created a perfect storm for McLaren, leading to this critical infringement.

What's next:

Lando Norris still leads the championship, but his once comfortable points buffer has been significantly reduced. He now holds a 24-point lead over both Piastri and Verstappen. The upcoming Qatar Grand Prix will be crucial:

• If Norris can extend his lead to 26 points or more in Qatar, he will secure the championship there.
• For Piastri, the disqualification effectively reduces his deficit to Norris, offering a renewed, albeit slim, opportunity.
• Max Verstappen is the biggest beneficiary, as he would have been all but eliminated from title contention had McLaren's original results stood. Now, strong finishes in Qatar's Sprint and Grand Prix could keep him in the hunt until the final round in Abu Dhabi. McLaren, meanwhile, will be scrutinizing its data to prevent a recurrence and ensure their cars remain compliant in the remaining races.