Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix
23rd November 2025Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after both cars failed post-race checks on their skidplates.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
The championship fight for the 2025 drivers champion has just taken a sharp left down an escape road, with two rounds to go on the calendar, after both McLarens of Norris and Piastri are confirmed to be disqualified from the Las Vegas race.
After the chequered flag fell, it was reported that both McLarens had failed post-race checks with the rearmost skidplate on their cars. According to the Technical Delegate’s report, the rearmost part of the skidplate was below the required 9mm thickness.
It was immediately referred to the stewards to whom the drivers were required to attend at 11:45pm local time.
Following this meeting, the stewards have now disqualified the drivers from the race. In their identical report, the stewards said:
“The rear skids of Car 81 were measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations. The relevant measurements were RHS Front 8.88mm, RHS Rear 8.93mm. The
measuring device was a Mitutoyo Micrometre purchased in May 2025, and according to the manufacturer’s specifications, accurate to within 0.001mm.
“The rear skids were re-measured in the presence of the Stewards and the three McLaren representatives, and those measurements confirmed that the skids did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than those measured originally by the Technical Delegate.”
The team argued that there were mitigating circumstances due to ‘additional and unexpected porpoising’ at the Grand Prix event. However, the FIA argued that thee were no provision to award any other penalty than the usual: a disqualification.
“The Stewards then heard submissions on penalty,” the stewards’ official document continued. “The Team argued that mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions.
“Further, the Team submitted that the degree of the breach was lower than prior breaches of this regulation in 2025.
The FIA argued that unfortunately there was no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than the usual penalty (i.e. disqualification).
“The FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.
“The Stewards also note the various decisions of the FIA International Court of Appeal which limit the ability to avoid disqualification for technical breaches.
“Notwithstanding the submission by the Team that there was potentially accidental damage that may have led to movement of the floor which could have caused additional wear, the Stewards do not consider this sufficient to mitigate the penalty.
“The Stewards determine that Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations has been breached and therefore the standard penalty of a disqualification needs to be applied for such an infringement.”
As such, this now promotes George Russell up to second place, and his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, will now get the final podium position to give the Silver Arrows their second double podium finish since Canada, back in June.
It marks the first double-pointless finish for the Woking-based squad, who stand as constructors’ champions for the season.
Additionally, it means the championship tightens up with only the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races left to contend in the next two weeks. 58 points are still available over the next two rounds, which include two Grand Prix and a sprint race in Qatar, the final sprint race weekend of the season next week.
Following the disqualification, Norris remains as the championship leader, but Piastri and Red Bull’s reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, will be joint on points (366pts), 24 behind Norris (390pts).
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Both McLaren cars at risk of disqualification of Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen keeps championship contention with Las Vegas Grand Prix win
- Lando Norris claims Las Vegas Grand Prix pole in challenging wet conditions
- George Russell tops final Las Vegas Grand Prix practice in changing conditions
- Ferrari confirm ‘steering wheel problem’ as Leclerc retired from Las Vegas FP2
- Lando Norris tops Las Vegas FP2 after red flag end due to maintenance
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
