Norris 'ignored' McLaren's cautious burnout warning after Vegas DSQ scare
After securing his first F1 World Championship, Lando Norris celebrated with burnouts in Abu Dhabi, deliberately ignoring a team radio warning to be cautious. McLaren's directive stemmed from the fresh memory of a double disqualification in Las Vegas for plank wear, which nearly cost them the title.
Fresh off winning his maiden Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris celebrated with the traditional victory burnout. However, the moment was tinged with caution for McLaren, as the painful memory of their Las Vegas double disqualification for excessive plank wear was still vivid. Team CEO Zak Brown revealed the team radioed Norris to "take weight off the tyre" to avoid any technical risk, a warning the new champion promptly "ignored."
Why it matters:
The incident highlights the fine line between celebration and technical compliance in modern F1. McLaren's immediate caution, even in a moment of ultimate triumph, underscores how a single technical infringement can overshadow a season's worth of effort. The team's risk-averse mindset, forged in the fire of a costly DSQ, nearly curtailed a champion's iconic celebratory moment.
The details:
- McLaren's championship charge faced a major setback at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified post-race for excessive plank wear on their MCL39s.
- The stewards found Norris's car had two illegal measurements (8.88mm and 8.93mm, below the 9mm limit), costing him 18 points and allowing Max Verstappen to close the title gap significantly.
- This scare directly influenced team strategy in Abu Dhabi. With the title secured by just two points, the team's priority shifted to ensuring no post-race technical issues could nullify the result.
- Brown's radio message to Norris was a direct instruction to minimize stress on the car during the burnout, a request made purely out of "being very cautious, coming out of Vegas."
The big picture:
Beyond the burnout drama, Brown emphasized the philosophical victory in how McLaren won the title. He pointed to the team's commitment to treating both Norris and Piastri as equal "number one" drivers throughout the season, despite external noise and the inherent risk of them taking points off each other. He referenced the 2007 lesson, where internal competition at McLaren allowed Kimi Räikkönen to snatch the title, as a guiding principle for their equitable approach.
What's next:
Norris's ignored instruction and subsequent burnout signal a champion's confident flourish, but also a team culture that prioritizes technical security above all else. As McLaren looks to defend its titles in 2026, this blend of calculated caution and driver freedom will continue to define their operations. Brown conceded that if Norris wins again, the team would likely exhibit the same cautious instincts, hoping the celebrations never again come with an underlying technical worry.