Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri DQs Deny McLaren Chance of Making F1 History
McLaren are no longer able to achieve a coveted record following Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s Las Vegas Grand Prix disqualifications.
Norris and Piastri, who finished second and fourth during the Vegas race, were both summoned by the stewards due to alleged breaches of the sport’s technical regulations relating to skid block thickness.
Rear skids must be a required thickness of 9mm, but the measurements on Norris’ car were 8.88mm on the right-hand side front and 8.93mm on the right-hand side rear.
Meanwhile, Piastri’s measurements were 8.96mm on the left-hand side front and 8.74mm on the right-hand side front, while being 8.90mm on the right-hand side rear.
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Despite McLaren arguing that there were “mitigating circumstances” regarding the excessive skid block wear, the FIA explained that “there was no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than the usual penalty (i.e. disqualification)”.
As a result, Max Verstappen, who won the race, gained ground on championship leader Norris while also drawing level with Piastri on 366 points ahead of the final two race weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
For Norris, who leads the standings by 24 points, the goal remains the same, with the Englishman able to clinch his maiden F1 crown in Doha if he outscores Piastri and Verstappen by two points.
A maximum of 58 points are available from the last two rounds – 25 in each race, as well as eight from the Sprint in Qatar.
Norris cannot win the title in the Qatar Sprint but will be crowned champion if he is at least 26 points ahead of the chasing duo following Sunday’s race at the Lusail International Circuit.
And despite Norris appearing likely to be the first McLaren driver to be a world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008, the manufacturer will miss out on a coveted record as a result of their Las Vegas disqualification.
McLaren retained their Constructors’ Championship crown following the Singapore Grand Prix weekend back in October and are currently way out in front on 756 points, while Mercedes are second on 431 points and Red Bull are third with 391.
However, the Woking-based team will no longer be able to break Red Bull’s record for most points scored in a season by a constructor (860), which was set back in 2023.
Mercedes are currently second on the list of most points, having won 765 in 2016, while Red Bull also hold third with 759 in 2022.
McLaren's current total of 756 puts them fourth on the all-time list.
Topics: Formula 1, McLaren, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
Luke Davies