When Lando Norris crossed the line in second place at the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on November 23, 2025, he thought he’d extended his championship lead. Two hours later, he was told his result didn’t exist. The same fate befell his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Both McLaren drivers were disqualified after their McLaren Racing MCL39 cars were found to have skid blocks worn below the legal limit — 8.7mm and 8.5mm, respectively, against the mandatory 9.0mm. The decision, handed down by FIA stewards led by Chief Steward Rui Marques, didn’t just rewrite the race results — it turned the 2025 Drivers’ Championship on its head.
How a 0.5mm Gap Changed Everything
The skid block — a 10mm-thick carbon-fiber plate under the car’s floor — is designed to limit aerodynamic advantage by ensuring cars don’t ride too low. Wear is expected. But Article 3.5.9 of the 2025 F1 Technical Regulations is clear: no less than 9.0mm at the rearmost point. Norris’s car measured 8.7mm. Piastri’s? 8.5mm. That’s half a millimeter. Less than the thickness of a credit card. In F1, that’s a chasm.
McLaren’s defense was detailed. Team Principal Andrea Stella argued that the Las Vegas Strip Circuit’s bumpy surface, combined with unseasonal rain that cut Friday practice, led to unusual porpoising. Piastri’s Turn 1 collision with Liam Lawson’s Visa Cash App RB was cited as a possible cause of floor displacement. The team even pointed out that previous skid block breaches this season had been penalized with fines or time penalties — not disqualification.
But the stewards didn’t budge. Their statement was blunt: “The jurisprudence of the FIA is constant.” Even if it was accidental — and they said it was — the rule is absolute. “We’ve seen this before,” said veteran steward Herbie Blash. “A rule is a rule. You can’t pick and choose based on intent.”
The Championship Domino Effect
Before the DQ, Norris led the Drivers’ Championship with 390 points — 42 ahead of Verstappen. Now? He’s up by just 24. Piastri, who had finished fourth, lost 12 points. And suddenly, Max Emilian Verstappen is tied with Piastri at 366 points. Verstappen, who won the race, now has the same number of wins as Piastri this season (six), but Piastri’s higher finish in the final race of the season breaks the tie in his favor. That’s how tightly packed this battle has become.
The revised Las Vegas podium looked like this: Verstappen first, then George Russell, followed by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli — the youngest podium finisher since 1975. Lewis Hamilton climbed to eighth. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz completed the top five for Ferrari. The chaos was real.
McLaren had already wrapped the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore. That’s cold comfort now. The team’s reputation — built on precision, discipline, and innovation — took a hit. “We’re devastated,” said Technical Director Peter Prodromou. “We’ve done everything by the book. But the book doesn’t allow for exceptions.”
Why This Isn’t Just About a Skid Block
This isn’t the first time F1 has seen a technical DQ shake up a championship. In 2021, Max Verstappen was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix for a fuel sample issue — only for the result to be reinstated on appeal. But those cases usually involved ambiguity. Here, the rule was unambiguous. And the FIA, under new leadership since 2024, has been pushing for stricter, more consistent enforcement — especially on floor and underbody compliance.
What’s chilling is the timing. The Las Vegas GP was the penultimate race before the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Norris had been cruising. Now, he’s in a dogfight. And Verstappen, who’s been chasing him all year, suddenly has a lifeline. “It’s like someone turned off the lights in the middle of a race,” said former F1 engineer and current analyst David Croft. “You don’t expect the rules to come after you when you’re already celebrating.”
What’s Next: Qatar and the Final Countdown
The next race — the Qatar Grand PrixLusail International Circuit — starts in just five days. The track’s high-speed corners and abrasive surface will test skid blocks again. McLaren says they’ve already redesigned their floor mounting system to eliminate any risk of flex. But the damage is done.
For Norris, it’s about composure. He’s been the season’s most consistent driver. For Verstappen, it’s about seizing the moment. For Piastri, it’s redemption. And for the FIA? It’s a message: no matter how close you are to the title, the rules don’t care.
Behind the Scenes: The Inspection Process
The FIA didn’t wait until the garage. Two hours after the checkered flag, both McLaren cars were summoned to the technical center. Teams were allowed to be present. A second set of measurements, conducted under witness, reportedly showed even lower readings — 8.6mm and 8.4mm. That sealed it. “We knew we were close,” admitted a McLaren engineer who spoke anonymously. “But we thought we were within the margin of error. We were wrong.”
It’s a reminder: in F1, margins aren’t just measured in seconds — they’re measured in millimeters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why wasn’t this caught during parc fermé inspection after qualifying?
Parc fermé inspections focus on aerodynamic compliance and weight, not skid block thickness, which is only measured post-race. Teams are allowed to make minor adjustments overnight, and skid wear occurs under race conditions — especially on bumpy circuits like Las Vegas. The FIA only checks this component after the race concludes, making it a common but rarely enforced post-race penalty.
Could McLaren have appealed the decision?
Technically yes — but the FIA’s International Court of Appeal has consistently upheld disqualifications for technical breaches since 2023, even when intent was absent. McLaren chose not to appeal, likely because precedent suggests an appeal would fail and could risk further penalties. The team’s statement indicated they accepted the ruling to avoid prolonged controversy.
How does this affect Norris’s chances at the Drivers’ title?
Norris now leads by just 24 points over Verstappen and Piastri, who are tied. With only two races left — Qatar and Abu Dhabi — he needs to finish ahead of both to seal the title. If Verstappen wins both and Norris fails to podium, Verstappen overtakes him. Norris’s consistency has been his strength; now, he must turn it into dominance under immense pressure.
Is this the first time skid block wear caused a disqualification in 2025?
No. Two other teams — Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin — received fines for skid block violations earlier this season, but only at the United States Grand Prix in Austin did multiple drivers get disqualified for the same issue. The FIA signaled then that enforcement was tightening. Las Vegas was the first time the penalty reached disqualification level, setting a new precedent for the 2025 season.
Why didn’t the FIA just fine McLaren instead of disqualifying them?
Because the FIA’s sporting code treats skid block violations as “critical safety and technical integrity” breaches, not minor infractions. Even if unintentional, allowing a fine would undermine the regulation’s purpose: preventing teams from running dangerously low to gain downforce. The FIA has made it clear: no exceptions. This isn’t about punishment — it’s about deterrence.
What’s the likelihood of another skid block disqualification in Qatar?
High. The Lusail circuit features long, high-speed straights and heavy braking zones that generate extreme floor flex. McLaren has redesigned their mounting system, but other teams — especially Red Bull and Ferrari — have been pushing floor limits all season. Expect tighter scrutiny, and possibly another post-race inspection drama. The skid block is now the most watched component in F1.
