Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

Norris masters wet Las Vegas to claim pole ahead of Verstappen and Sainz.
Lando Norris mastered a treacherous qualifying session in Las Vegas to claim his third pole position in a row.
22nd November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

The McLaren driver captured pole position by three tenths of a second from Max Verstappen with a rapid final lap on a soaked track. Carlos Sainz Jnr took third place for Williams ahead of George Russell but both are under investigation. The stewards are looking into whether Sainz rejoined the track unsafely in Q1 and Mercedes failed to submit its set-up sheets in time for both its cars.

‘Treacherous qualifying session in Las Vegas’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/22/...pen-and-sainz/


2025 F1 Las Vegas GP – Qualifying Results
Norris beats Verstappen to Las Vegas pole as Sainz shocks with P3
22 November 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport

F1 Las Vegas GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Las Vegas GP 2025 Qualifying results from Nevada below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:47.934
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.323
3 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.362
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.869
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.027
6 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +1.128
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.532
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +1.620
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.938
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +3.606

‘Qualifying Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...fying-results/


Norris and Verstappen brawl incoming after front row lockout in Vegas GP
22 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com

Lando Norris got pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen in P2 and Carlos Sainz in P3.

Despite Verstappen and Russell showing pace earlier on, Norris and Piastri dominated the session as the circuit dried up. The British McLaren driver put in a lap ove five tenths quicker than Piastri and more than eight tenths faster than Verstappen in P3. Despite Sainz' late surge to the top, the Dutch driver retook the the lead, albeit briefly.

‘Front row lockout’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...ut-in-vegas-gp


Lewis Hamilton last at Las Vegas GP as Ferrari nightmare continues
Lewis Hamilton will start last at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
22 Nov 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Lewis Hamilton has qualified last in a wet and wild qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion suffered a shock Q1 elimination in the wet in Las Vegas and ended up slowest of all in 20th. Hamilton was nearly three seconds slower than Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who safely progressed into the next part of qualifying.

There appeared to be some miscommunication as Hamilton looked to have aborted his final flying lap, having only just made the line in time. "Are we safe?" Hamilton asked, to which race engineer Riccardo Adami replied: "Keep pushing." Hamilton said "I got the light..." before Adami came back "No, push!".

Having been eliminated, Hamilton reported he "couldn't get the tyres to work". Hamilton has endured a torrid maiden campaign with Ferrari, branding his first season in red as a "nightmare" after retiring from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last time out. It marks the first time in Hamilton's F1 career that he has qualified last on pure pace.

‘Ferrari nightmare continues’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108721...mare-continues


Vegas Shock: Stewards Put Sainz’s P3 Under Threat
November 22, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Las Vegas stewards probe puts Sainz’s hard won P3 under threat after near miss with Stroll. Carlos Sainz’s sharp, rain soaked qualifying lap around the Strip may not hold up under the floodlights for long. The Williams driver, who stuck his FW47 third on the grid for Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, has been summoned to the stewards over an alleged unsafe rejoin during Q1 after a close call with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

The flashpoint came at Turn 5, the tight 90 degree right hander that caught out a handful of drivers in treacherous conditions. Sainz overshot and ducked down the escape road, then rejoined as Stroll arrived on the scene. The two came uncomfortably close to trading carbon, and that’s all it takes to trigger an investigation these days. Both drivers have been called to see the stewards at 21:25 local time.

It’s a gut punch moment for Sainz, whose late season form has been one of the year’s genuine bright spots. Since joining Williams, he’s helped drag the team back onto the podium for the first time since 2021 with a third place in Baku, then matched the result in the sprint at the United States Grand Prix. The Vegas lap — precise, patient, ruthless in the wet — looked like another well timed statement from a driver who’s rebuilt momentum in deep water. Whether he keeps that P3 is now in the hands of the officials…

‘It’s a gut punch moment for Sainz’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/vegas-sh...-under-threat/

[Fortitude]

Las Vegas GP: Max Verstappen wins as Lando Norris closes in on world title with second, Oscar Piastri finishes fourth.
Norris and Oscar Piastri under investigation for alleged excessive skid block wear and could be disqualified.
23 Nov 2025
Nigel Chiu
Sky Sports

Max Verstappen dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Lando Norris fought back to finish second - but the McLaren driver and team-mate Oscar Piastri could be disqualified for excessive skid block wear.

Two hours after the chequered flag, the FIA announced both McLarens were under investigation for too much plank wear, a ruling which would see them thrown out of the race - as happened with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year.

In the race pole-sitter Norris lost out to Verstappen and George Russell in a dramatic start but, as it stands, increased his advantage in the Drivers' Championship to 30 points over Piastri, who was fourth, and 42 points to Verstappen.

'Investigation for alleged excessive skid block wear ';

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...inishes-fourth


Las Vegas GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix where Max Verstappen took his sixth victory of 2025.
23 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time / Retired Pts.
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 50 1:21:08.429 25
2 4 Lando Norris McLaren 50 +20.741s 18
3 63 George Russell Mercedes 50 +23.546s 15
4 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 50 +27.650s 12
5 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 50 +30.488s 10
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 50 +30.678s 8
7 55 Carlos Sainz Williams 50 +34.924s 6
8 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 50 +45.257s 4
9 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber 50 +51.134s 2
10 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 50 +59.369s 1

‘Full results’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-l...-race-results/


Norris and Piastri face exclusion from Vegas GP F1 results
Nov 23, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm, Jon Noble
The Race

Formula 1 title rivals and McLaren team-mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a skid wear problem was recorded during post-race technical inspections. Norris finished second with Piastri fourth in a race won by championship outsider Max Verstappen.

Both have now been referred to the stewards after the measured thickness of the rearmost skid on both McLarens was less than 9mm, the minimum thickness required by the technical regulations. A technical infringement is usually a black-and-white matter so both drivers could be excluded. McLaren was called in to see the stewards at 11.45pm local time.

Standings right now
1 Norris 408
2 Piastri 378 (+30)
3 Verstappen 366 (+42)
Standings if McLarens excluded
1 Norris 390
2 Piastri 366 (+24)
3 Verstappen 366 (+24)

‘Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face disqualification’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/n...xclusion-risk/


BREAKING: Norris and Piastri facing Las Vegas GP DSQ as FIA launches McLaren investigation
23 Nov 2025
Thomas Maher
planetf1.com

A McLaren representative has been summoned to appear before the stewards in Las Vegas due to an alleged breach of the technical regulations related to plank wear. “The skid wear of car numbers 81 [Piastri] and 04 [Norris] was checked,” read the stewards’ document, quoting technical delegate Jo Bauer.

“The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission in accordance with TD039 M, item 1.2 b) I). The measured thickness was less than 9 mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required by TR Article 3.5.9 e). I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”

‘Summoned to appear’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...-oscar-piastri


Norris and Piastri under threat of disqualification from Las Vegas Grand Prix
23rd November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

The scrutineers in Las Vegas have confirmed Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s rear skid blocks were worn beneath the legal limit when they were checked after the race. As this would put the car in breach of the technical regulations, both drivers are at risk of being disqualified.

‘Threat of disqualification’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/...as-grand-prix/


BREAKING: F1 title race bombshell as BOTH McLarens face DQ from Vegas GP
November 23rd, 2025
Max Laughton from Fox Sports@maxlaughton
Fox Sports (Australia)

F1 championship leader Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri are both facing potential disqualifications from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In a bombshell moment for the title race, McLaren has been summoned to the stewards following the third-last race of the season, which was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Norris finished second to extend his title lead over fourth-placed Piastri to 30 points, while his lead over Verstappen moved to 42 points. But both drivers’ cars were checked and alleged excessive skidblock wear has been found, similar to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being DQ’d from the 2023 US Grand Prix.

‘F1 title race bombshell’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...73fce430a1db1b


Norris risks losing P2 after Vegas GP with FIA investigation
23 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Lando Norris risks forfeiting his second-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix following the scrutiny of the McLaren driver’s car after the race.

The British driver, who is within touching distance of a maiden Drivers’ Championship, has seen his No. 4 MCL39 come under the crosshairs of the FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis in the garage, who, alongside his team, was conducting a thorough check on the 26-year-old’s car.

While the reason for this check has not yet been officially revealed, it is worth noting that the McLaren driver was forced to lift and coast in the final stages of the Nevada race.

‘McLaren driver was forced to lift and coast’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-n...ue-in-the-race

[Fortitude]

Official: Norris and Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix.
A post-race inspection found the rear skid blocks were worn beneath the legal limit on the two MCL39s.
23rd November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer stated: “The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission” and “the measured thickness was less than 9mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required.” After summong the team’s representatives to a hearing, the stewards confirmed both cars had been disqualified.

McLaren’s double disqualification cuts Norris’s lead over both drivers to 24 points. The result is a huge boost for Verstappen, who arrived in Las Vegas 49 points behind Norris. The stewards’ decision has handed more points to several of their rivals. George Russell moves up to second place and is joined on the podium by his team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

‘Both cars had been disqualified’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/...as-grand-prix/


Norris and Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix
23 Nov 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com

The McLaren F1 team have been disqualified from the Las Vegas GP due to a technical infringement, the FIA has confirmed.

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's cars failed post-race scrutineering after their skid blocks were found to be below the required 9mm minimum thickness level. The disqualification has a significant impact on the world championship as Norris has lost the 18 points he received for his P2 finish, giving race winner Max Verstappen a 25-point swing in the title fight.

Updated championship standings
McLaren's disqualification has blown the championship wide open as Verstappen jumps to within a race win of Norris.
STANDINGS DRIVER POINTS
P1 Lando Norris 390
P2 Oscar Piastri 366
P3 Max Verstappen 366

‘Skid blocks were found to be below the required 9mm minimum thickness level’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-n...gas-grand-prix


Both McLarens thrown out of Las Vegas GP in huge F1 title twist
McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix for technical infringements.
23 Nov 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

"The rear skids of Car 4 [and 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 stewards said in a statement.”

"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.”

‘Huge F1 title twist’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108733...f1-title-twist


McLaren disqualified from Las Vegas GP
Both McLarens have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive plank wear, throwing the drivers’ championship wide open with two rounds remaining.
23 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

The closing stages of the grand prix had already seen moments of concern for Norris, who slowed aggressively in the final laps, losing around 14 seconds to Verstappen in what was widely assumed to be a fuel-saving measure, with radio messages indicating the team was monitoring fuel levels. Norris later hinted at “some issues with the car” but said he did not fully understand the cause.

The Race reported that both McLarens were held longer than usual in parc ferme, with team principal Andrea Stella seen speaking with FIA technical officials. In an earlier statement announcing the investigation, FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer confirmed the referral to stewards:

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were referred to the stewards after finishing second and fourth respectively, when post-race checks revealed the rear skids on their cars were worn below the minimum 9mm thickness required by regulations. After deliberating for more than three hours, the stewards confirmed both cars breached the rules and excluded them from the race.

‘Throwing the drivers’ championship wide open with two rounds remaining’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-m...ramifications/


OFFICIAL: Norris and Piastri suffer shock disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix
23 Nov 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

FIA's statement read: "The Stewards heard from the Team Principal, Team Sporting Director and Technical Director of McLaren Formula 1 Team, the FIA Single Seater Director, the FIA Single Seater Technical Director and the FIA Technical Delegate.

"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 as not deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.”

‘Shock disqualification’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/28008

[Fortitude]

McLaren DISQUALIFIED in VEGAS F1.
@re1ky: if you get your news from comedy. @Gallalad1: Simply lovely. @TheAniSi: Papaya rules.
Nov 23, 2025
Conor Moore Racing

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix by the FIA

@camdav8323: What shenanigans have they been up to Oscar needs to move on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBJeCf3zXGc


Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri REACTION to McLaren Disqualification in Las Vegas
Nov 23, 2025
Behind Grand Prix

BREAKING news from the Las Vegas Grand Prix: both McLaren cars — Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — have been disqualified from the race. The FIA confirmed that the rear skid block thickness on both cars failed post-race inspection, coming in below the legal minimum.

This shock ruling wipes out McLaren’s double points finish and dramatically reshuffles the championship picture. Norris loses his hard-earned P2 and Piastri also drops out of the classification completely, handing crucial positions — and points — to their rivals.

@Olifantenstaart: Why McLaren took ANY risk with the planks is beyond me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJO32LhuQo8


Lando Norris confirms he knew of McLaren ‘issues’ as during Las Vegas GP as he suffers DSQ
The Brit was struck from the records for excessive plank wear on November 22.
23 November 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport

Lando Norris confirms he knew McLaren had issues during the 2025 Las Vegas GP, as he confirms he had to back off to manage a plank wear issue – only to later suffer a title-damaging DSQ.

Aware something was wrong, Norris confirms he knew McLaren had “issues” with their car at the Las Vegas GP, although it seems nobody expected a DSQ as he suffers a big title set-back.

“I think there was just some issues with the car,” Norris said to media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “The team were telling me on the radio. So, yeah. Just had to back off a bit.”

‘Issues’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...e-suffers-dsq/


Red Bull hails Max Verstappen ‘masterclass’ in F1 Las Vegas GP
23 November 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Starting alongside the McLaren driver, the 28-year-old got a better start off the line. But Norris was quick to cover off Verstappen’s advances going into Turn 1. However, as Norris veered off to the left, he missed his braking point and ran deep, allowing the four-time F1 champion to slide down the inside to take the lead.

Mekies hailed the Dutchman’s instincts, crediting his move as the decisive moment of the race. “Well, you know, Lap 1, Turn 1, he just never gets it wrong, no? So that was a typical Max, he nailed it, got a good start, got Lando,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “You guys can judge it better than I do, but he just never gets it wrong, so that’s what it’s then.”

‘Masterclass’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-vegas-gp-win/


F1 title race explained: How Norris and Piastri's disqualification opens door for Verstappen
Possibility of Abu Dhabi championship decider increases after controversy in Las Vegas
November 23, 2025
Mina Rzouki
The National

The Formula One title battle has been given a thrilling lease of life after the disqualification of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Hours after the race finished, both McLaren cars were kicked out for excessive plank wear, with the skid blocks below the minimum thickness, meaning Norris lost his points for second place and Piastri for his fourth spot.

The implications are significant, with race winner Max Verstappen benefiting the most from this decision. Instead of leading Piastri by 30 points and Verstappen by 42, Norris now leads both rivals by just 24 points going into next weekend's Qatar GP. Verstappen moves up to joint-second with Piastri (the Australian stays ahead on win countback).

Piastri and Verstappen: Both in second place level on 366 points. To stay in the title fight after Qatar, both Piastri and Verstappen must remain within 25 points of Norris. If the gap becomes 26 or more, Norris is champion. Verstappen hugely benefits from the double disqualification. His deficit shrinks from 42 to 24, dragging him back into contention.

‘The Formula One title battle has been given a thrilling lease of life’;

https://www.thenationalnews.com/spor...or-verstappen/

[Fortitude]

The McLaren radio messages which show how they tried to manage plank wear.
McLaren’s radio messages during the Las Vegas Grand Prix show how they tried to contain the problem which led to their double disqualification.
23rd Nov 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

It seems that Norris decided his pursuit of Verstappen was futile, knew he had a significant gap over Russell and decided to focus on looking after his plank as much as possible. The fact he was able to do this may explain why his plank was not over-worn to the same extent as Piastri’s, but it was not enough to prevent him joining his team mate in disqualification after the race.

Lap: 42/50 NOR: 1’34.081, PIA: 1’34.641
Joseph: And suggest silver D4 silver D4, the fronts look more robust on this tyre. And reminder, overtake.
Norris: Yep. Let’s just do whatever we got to do, please, so tell me whatever I got to do.
Joseph: Okay, in which case just do more.
Lap: 43/50 NOR: 1’34.271, PIA: 1’34.499
Norris: What do I do with 10? Because sometimes I lift more, it just feels worse.
Joseph: Whatever you do in 10 doesn’t make much difference. It’s more 11 and 12. The next thing you can do is earlier into 17.
Lap: 46/50 NOR: 1’35.534, PIA: 1’34.588
Joseph: And overtake. And happy to try a lift in 10.
Joseph: That’s four laps to go.
Lap: 47/50 NOR: 1’36.128, PIA: 1’34.086
Norris: You’re happy with everything? Need more or what?
Joseph: So Lando still do overtake into 14. We can do an earlier lift into 17, bigger lift into 11. Happy to lose two seconds in the three laps remaining.
Lap: 48/50 NOR: 1’37.702, PIA: 1’34.165
Joseph: Overtake and then that lift.

Underlining how concerned McLaren were about the plank situation, Piastri was even reminded on the final lap to lift off again, past the point at which the team would have been worrying about tyre wear.
The only message to Norris regarding fuel came on the final lap, long after he had begun backing off.

‘The McLaren radio messages’;

https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/...ring-the-race/


McLaren disqualification gives Verstappen more than hope: now Max is at his best
23 Nov 2025
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

Publicly, Max Verstappen won’t speak of any mindset other than the one he shared this weekend in Las Vegas: take it race by race and see what that brings in Abu Dhabi. Quietly, though, he’ll be even more motivated in his pursuit of Lando Norris after the disqualification of both McLarens. That’s when he is at his best.

Verstappen thought he needed a small miracle after the Las Vegas Grand Prix winner saw Lando Norris sitting beside him on the couch in the press conference room. The gap to the McLaren driver was enormous—too big, really—to still hope for another title. What the Red Bull Racing driver couldn’t foresee was that, elsewhere in the paddock, the FIA stewards were creating that miracle. The plank under Norris' McLaren was excessively worn, which ultimately resulted in disqualification.

‘Small miracle’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/m...is-at-his-best


Double DQ—McLaren, Piastri, Norris react to Las Vegas F1 skid wear stuff-up
23 Nov 2025
Peter Maniaty
Sporting News

Undoubtedly the biggest loser of the DQ decision is 2025 drivers championship leader Lando Norris, who has seen his margin over the resurgent Max Verstappen now reduced to just 24 points. “It’s frustrating to lose so many points. As a team, we’re always pushing to find as much performance as we can, and we clearly didn’t get that balance right today,” Norris commented.

McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri was equally as frustrated, acknowledging the razor fine margins between success and failure in Formula One. “Disappointing … given how close the grid is we’re always looking at where we can gain performance and we didn’t get it right this time,” Piastri said.

‘Las Vegas F1 skid wear stuff-up’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/form...58d29c09ae5c12


What we know about misjudgement behind shock McLaren double DSQ
Nov 23, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

The disqualification of both McLarens from the Las Vegas Grand Prix was a shock given the way the race ended had left a big implication that only Lando Norris was at risk, and for a very different reason. Whenever Norris or McLaren were asked about the aggressive lift and coast measures Norris had done in the final few laps of the race, the answers were cagey at best.

But the lift-and-coast messages and fuel implications turned out to be a red herring. It seems McLaren’s messages were essentially coded and that Norris was having to lift and coast but not to manage fuel - to try to protect the plank. Norris is even quoted in McLaren’s press release as confirming the end-of-race management was “due to some issues on our car, which have unfortunately resulted in us being disqualified”.

‘But the lift-and-coast messages and fuel implications turned out to be a red herring’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...en-double-dsq/


Las Vegas Strips Norris: McLaren DSQs Ignite Title Chaos
Nov 23, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Norris stripped of Las Vegas P2 as McLaren double DSQ shakes up title run-in. Under the neon lights of Las Vegas, Lando Norris walked away with nothing but frustration and a slimmer margin in the championship fight. Hours after finishing second to Max Verstappen on Sunday night, both McLarens were thrown out of the results for excessive plank wear — a black and white technical breach with no wiggle room.

The penalty stung. Norris’ runner-up finish would have stretched his lead to 30 points over Oscar Piastri, with Verstappen 42 back and only two rounds left. Instead, the disqualification cuts his advantage to 24 points — now over both Piastri and Verstappen — with the title picture taking on a cooler, sharper edge just when McLaren could least afford it.

“Frustrating,” Norris said, summing up a long night that turned on a few hundredths of a millimetre. “We had to do some managing towards the end of the race and now we know it was due to some issues on our car, which have unfortunately resulted in us being disqualified. It’s frustrating to lose so many points… nothing I can do will change that now. Full focus switches to Qatar.” The FIA’s scrutineering sheet told the tale: Norris’ plank measured 0.07mm and 0.12mm under the required 9mm thickness at its designated points

‘Under the neon lights of Las Vegas, Lando Norris walked away with nothing but frustration…’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/las-vega...e-title-chaos/


What could be behind McLaren's plank wear DSQ shock
Nov 24, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race

One of the intriguing aspects about McLaren’s double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for worn planks is that the infringement was at the rear of its Formula 1 car. In a season when rivals have been paying super close attention to where McLaren’s advantage comes from, it’s been widely acknowledged that the MCL39 has a concept that predominantly runs on its front skids.

Sauber’s sporting director Inaki Rueda offered some fascinating insight recently about the benefits that a team can gain from the current cars in being able to run the front of the car low down like McLaren. "I think most cars this year are wearing the rears," he said. "But whichever team has managed to pivot to the front, that means they actually are able to run lower than the rest of us.”

"This is something that is quite clever. Most of the downforce [generated by the floor] comes from where the driver is sitting, and towards the back. So that's where you really want the floor to be close to the ground. So if the main point of wear is back there, then you need to raise the car at that point – and you lose downforce. A lot of design effort is spent on trying to migrate that work to the front, so that you can run it low. But it's not an easy task."

‘Where McLaren’s advantage comes fro’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...ear-dsq-shock/


Internet reacts to McLaren disqualification in Las Vegas
23 Nov 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com

McLaren's disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix has blown the world championship right open and made shockwaves across the internet. Fans react to McLaren disqualification. As the world championship is blown open, fans now believe a three-way world title fight has truly come alive.

Sensing the drama one person commented: "Are they filming Drive to survive this year by chance?" Another chimed in with "Abu Dhabi will be a movie."
Someone else said: "We are getting a race for the championship now."
Stunned by the development another fan said: "Did not have this on my Bingo card for today!"

The news has helped the Dutchman's fanbase to come alive. "Max could win it now. Oh God. We are dead here when it happens," said one Verstappen fan.
Another excited Verstappen fan typed: "DU DU DU DU MAX VERSTAPPEN!!!! 5TH CHAMPIONSHIP COMING!!!"
The result elevated George Russell to P2 and his teammate Kimi Antonelli to P3, a feat which was not lost on one fan: "1) The championship is wide open, and Max could easily grab it now. 2) Kimi is now P3, meaning he went from P17 to P3."

‘Shockwaves across the internet’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/inter...n-in-las-vegas

[Fortitude]

McLaren’s car is now ‘compromised’ for the Qatar Grand Prix after Las Vegas disqualifications.
Former F1 designer Gary Anderson explained how the disqualification would affect the McLaren car at the final two races. They will need to be more ‘cautious’ than usual. (Writing in his column for The Telegraph).
25 Nov 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

McLaren revived Max Verstappen’s world championship hopes with a double disqualification at last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. The FIA found excessive skid block wear on both cars. The upshot is that Norris and Piastri are ‘slightly compromised’ at the next two weekends as the team try to avoid ‘one of the worst collapses in F1 history’.

The obvious change is raising their car’s ride height to protect the plank, a measure Ferrari had to take after they were thrown out of the Chinese GP in March. This will cost them downforce and, as a result, lap time. By contrast, Verstappen is bound to be as aggressive as possible. Red Bull think McLaren are vulnerable to pressure due to their inexperience – they haven’t won a championship double in the 21st century.

‘McLaren’s car is now compromised’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mcl...ualifications/


F1 tech expert claims McLaren left ‘compromised’ after "screw-up"
McLaren's double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix leaves the team "compromised".
25 Nov 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Former Jordan and Jaguar F1 technical director Gary Anderson, wrote in his column for The Telegraph; “It would be bad enough for a midfield team scrapping for a few points, but for a team in McLaren’s position it is far worse… It can only be described as a screw-up that now leaves them vulnerable instead of comfortable.”

“McLaren as a team will also need to be cautious,” he explained. “First, with the plank wear and setting their car up to avoid this (which means losing some lap time), but there are also other risks. “Not under-fuelling the cars too much, for example. This is a way to save lap time by saving weight, but the penalty for not having enough fuel to provide a sample is enormous, as George Russell found out last year in Belgium.”

“They also need to make sure their cooling is sufficient to avoid having to back off when they are in traffic. In other words, they are slightly compromised heading into a crucial two races. It would have been unthinkable not too long ago that a McLaren driver would not win the title, yet they need to really switch on to avoid one of the worst collapses in F1 history.”

"Screw-up";

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108738...es-after-screw


Verstappen and Red Bull may have triggered McLaren’s Vegas disqualification
24 Nov 2025
Kada Sárközi
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing may have pushed McLaren to set up the cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri so aggressively that it ultimately led to illegal plank wear and thus disqualification. It was almost unimaginable that this happened. At a very costly moment in the championship, McLaren made the mistake of apparently setting their drivers’ cars too low. Precisely when Lando Norris could use every point in his title fight to make his dream a reality, they made such a major blunder.

Because yes, it was a mistake, as McLaren framed it after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In a statement released late in the night in the US, team principal Andrea Stella said what they did was ‘unintentional’ and that there was ‘no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.’ What Stella said is undoubtedly true. Still, the fact remains that the plank under Lando Norris’ car was worn down by 0.12 millimeters over the limit, and on Oscar Piastri’s car by no less than 0.26 millimeters beyond what is allowed.

This could only have happened if the cars were set too low to the ground, because eight other F1 cars from rival teams had no excessive wear. The reason a car sits as low as possible is because of the downforce effect. After all, a car generally goes faster the lower it sits to the ground. The follow-up question is: why did McLaren push the absolute limit in terms of ride height? It could well be that the British team considered Red Bull Racing such a serious threat that the Woking-based squad decided to take a gamble. Perhaps knowing that without an extremely low ride height, Verstappen would have easily defeated them anyway. Or was this really a one-off, as McLaren would have us believe?

‘Major blunder’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/v...squalification


How Verstappen Won Vegas Before Lights Out
November 25, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Las Vegas served up neon, nerves and a little needle. An untelevised slice of team radio from the grid has surfaced, catching Lando Norris accusing Max Verstappen of “taking the p*ss” with the gaps on the formation lap — moments before the McLaren swept across to defend and then skated wide at Turn 1, handing the lead to the Red Bull. It was classic pre-start brinkmanship in tricky conditions. With temperatures down and rear tyres reluctant to wake up, race control had told drivers to crank out up to five burnouts at the end of the formation lap.

Verstappen obliged, aggressively, all five of them. Norris managed three, none too wild, because he was busy policing the space ahead and the Red Bull looming behind. “Yeah, he’s taking the p*ss with how big of a gap he’s leaving. It’s way over the allowed allowance,” Norris told McLaren as they rolled to the grid, pushing again: “You can’t do this. It’s 10 car lengths, no?” The wrinkle: that 10-car-length rule applies under the Safety Car. On formation laps, the wording is softer — “kept as tight as possible” — which gives drivers room to, well, interpret.

Verstappen interpreted it like a four-time world champion chasing a title should. He dialled in the tyre temp, launched better, then watched as Norris pinched right to close the door, ended up on the dust and at too sharp an angle, and slid wide. Verstappen was gone. Gianpiero Lambiase, back on the podium with his driver for the first time since Qatar 2023, came over the radio with the sort of pat on the back he saves for big days: “Good job, Max. You kept it calm. Kept your head.”

“Yeah, he’s taking the p*ss with how big of a gap he’s leaving”;

https://fastestlap.com/news/how-vers...re-lights-out/


Why Verstappen ‘laughed’ at McLaren ‘come and get’ him message to Norris
24 Nov 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Between Lando Norris’ first lap aggression and McLaren’s call to “get Max”, Max Verstappen was given all the motivation he needed in Las Vegas – and it didn’t even come from Red Bull.

Norris asked McLaren if they want him to “overtake” Russell. The reply was emphatic: “Overtake, we want to go get Max.” He promptly did so to applause from the McLaren garage. He was, however, five seconds down on Verstappen, who was told by GP: “Lando has been told to come and get you.”

But instead of closing in on Verstappen, Norris dropped time lap after lap. Initially it was a tenth here and there, but at the end of those 15 laps, the gap between Verstappen and Norris was over 20 seconds, as Norris battled a mystery issue with his McLaren.

“Overtake, we want to go get Max”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/why-ma...aren-las-vegas


Mark Hughes: How Verstappen suckered Norris into a race-losing move
Nov 23, 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race

The start – which may or not have been crucial to Verstappen’s victory – was partly about the perfect preparation Verstappen made and Norris getting himself wound up on the approach to the grid about how far behind Max was. As Norris bogged down slightly he moved smartly to the inside to counter the Red Bull’s better acceleration, Verstappen forced to lift slightly. Easing right to open up Turn 1, the Red Bull took the lead as Norris found himself pulled out wide through the turn, having braked too late. Norris’ lost momentum as he rejoined allowed Russell alongside and up to second as they reached Turn 4. That was the most important part of Verstappen’s race.

Whether it was part of Verstappen’s ploy to maximise the time Norris’ tyres were cooling we can’t know. But on such a cold track, good starting temperatures were even more crucial than usual. Drivers were being instructed to do as many as five burn-outs. Norris was so preoccupied with where Verstappen was that he did only three burn outs, none of which were as aggressive as any of Verstappen’s five. Norris’ rear tyres were almost certainly significantly cooler than Verstappen’s as the start lights went out.

Verstappen seemed particularly pleased with his 69th career victory: “Yes, because back in ’23 winning races was like ticking boxes, but now it’s not so easy. Today it was just about seeing how much you could push, especially in the first stint on the more fragile [medium] tyre.” “But the tyres were good today and it’s not something we’ve always been good on, but the car was working pretty well and I didn’t need to take too much out of the tyre.” As for the answer to those other questions regarding fuel and plank wear, Norris was severely constrained in the last few laps with lift and coasting. Radio exchanges between him and engineer Will Joseph suggested excessive fuel consumption. Then the officials took a look at the planks…

‘Norris was so preoccupied with where Verstappen was’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...e-losing-move/

[Fortitude]

F1 world champion backs Max Verstappen to win title after McLaren disqualifications.
Jacques Villeneuve has backed Max Verstappen to win this year’s F1 world championship after the dramatic events following the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night.
25 Nov 2025
The Independent

Championship leader Lando Norris had one hand on the trophy after extending his lead to 30 points over Oscar Piastri with a second-place finish in Vegas, with race winner Verstappen 42 points off the Briton.

Yet the shock double disqualification of both McLaren cars for excessive skid plank wear has thrust Verstappen back into the fight. With two rounds to go and 58 points on the table, Verstappen is now level on points with Piastri – a driver he trailed by 104 points at the start of September – and 24 behind Norris.

‘Backed Max Verstappen to win’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/f1-...-b2871994.html


Strip Slip, Plank Flip: Norris’s DSQ Turbocharges Verstappen
November 25, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

Norris owns Las Vegas start blunder as disqualification turns damage into disaster. Lando Norris didn’t sugarcoat it. “Pretty embarrassing,” he said of his opening move in Las Vegas — a lunge to the inside, on the dustier half of the Strip, that handed Max Verstappen the lead before they’d even settled into Turn 1. He braked late, ran deep, and the Red Bull was gone. That part he could live with. What came next stung far more.

Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were both thrown out of the results after the flag for excessive plank wear, scrubbing a hard-fought P2 on the road into nothing and turning a bad start into a bruising night. Verstappen, meanwhile, banked another win and tightened the championship chase just when it looked like Norris had room to breathe. The sequence was born on the formation lap. Verstappen loitered, then rattled off a string of burnouts before forming up — five in total to Norris’s three — priming the Red Bull’s rears for a cold desert launch. It was savvy, legal, and it worked.

With better initial bite off the line, Verstappen forced Norris to make a choice into Turn 1: hang it around the grippier outside, or slice to the inside and hope the marbles would hold. Norris chose the latter. Vegas chose violence. “You’ve got to be punchy into Turn 1,” he said afterwards. “I was just a bit too punchy and that cost me, so that’s the way it is sometimes.” Later, to Sky Sports F1, he was harsher: “Pretty embarrassing. I need to learn from Turn 1 and try to do a better job than I’ve been doing recently.”

‘Strip Slip, Plank Flip’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/strip-sl...es-verstappen/


Lando Norris has Max Verstappen on the brain
25 Nov 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Why did Max Verstappen make such a concerted effort to mark himself as a tough and uncompromising competitor in his earliest days in F1? Taking every single opportunity that presented itself to launch a bold, late-braking move down the inside?

Moving unpredictably on the brakes in defence against the Nico Rosbergs, Sebastian Vettels and Lewis Hamiltons of this world, drawing all three world champions into mistakes? Twitching suddenly in eighth gear on the straight at Spa just as Kimi Raikkonen went in for the kill, leaving him with no option but to back right off or risk eating tree?

Precisely for moments like the start of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It messes with the minds of other drivers. Gets them thinking. Overthinking. Keeps them guessing. Second guessing. Driving unnaturally to combat whatever it is they think Max might – or might not – be about to do.

‘Lando Norris has Max Verstappen on the brain’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/la...gas-grand-prix


What Verstappen still needs after McLaren's disastrous assist
Nov 25, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

McLaren's disastrous double disqualification in Las Vegas has brought Max Verstappen closer to the lead of the Formula 1 drivers' championship points than he has been since an opportunistic victory at Imola in May. But does it mean anything with Lando Norris still in control of the championship? After all,

To go from the brink of being eliminated in Vegas, had Norris finished ahead of him, to now having a very real chance of taking the fight all the way to Abu Dhabi is a big shift in control for Verstappen. That's the biggest thing he's gained because for Verstappen it will all be about keeping it alive until the final day: he knows better than anyone how much the championship situation can suddenly swing in your favour in a one-race shootout.

Assistance still needed: What hasn't changed is that Verstappen still needs outside assistance, even though he's just had a big assist already. The extent of the points deficit meant Verstappen needed Norris to suffer two setbacks in the final three races. Getting such a massive swing in one go definitely helps. Verstappen's best chance, obviously, is to win everything that there is left to win. Much easier said than done, of course, and it could still leave Verstappen quite a few points shy.

‘Assistance still needed’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...strous-assist/


Lando Norris vows ‘nothing changes’ despite Max Verstappen's title charge
25 Nov 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Lando Norris has stated that "nothing changes" in his "mentality" as the penultimate race weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix approaches. "What's done me so well the last few weekends is by going flat, staying out of trouble, staying out of the chaos behind. It’s almost a safer bet in terms of pushing," Norris started by saying during Thursday's press conference in Vegas.

"I think it's not the right mindset to have. I come here this weekend to try and win. I’ll go to Qatar to try and win. I still treat it as if I’m not in a championship – I’m just here to try and win this weekend, and that’s the mentality I’ll have.”

"Of course, when you're on track, you make different decisions depending on risk levels and things like that. But I feel like my judgment of that, generally, is pretty good and pretty accurate. So I’m happy. Nothing changes because of whatever points I’ve got."

‘Nothing changes’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/lando...s-title-charge

[Fortitude]

McLaren to be 'Closely monitored' by FIA at Qatar GP after allegations of cheating emerge.
The FIA are set to place McLaren under increased scrutiny at this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix after allegations that the team have been cheating emerged.
26 Nov 2025
Christopher Durning
Give Me Sport

This past weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix was one to forget for the 2025 Constructors' Championship winners, as drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both disqualified after the race. Norris had originally finished second in Sin City, behind race winner Max Verstappen, with Piastri back in fourth. However, the Papaya pair were then excluded from the official classifications after their cars were found to have skid block wear. Stewards deemed that the thickness of the planks under both McLaren cars measured less than 9mm, which is the required minimum by the end of a grand prix.

team principal Andrea Stella apologising to both Norris and Piastri; "We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend." Stella went on to add: "As a team, we also apologise to our partners and fans, whose support means so much. While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season.”

"The theory as to why the skid blocks wore down below the limit has been linked to "unexpected porpoising" which happens when the car bounces on the track. Heading into this weekend's race in Qatar, the team are to be 'closely monitored' after it was claimed that they (along with several rival constructors) had been using the illegal practice of teams using skid blocks that expand when heated. The FIA have been monitoring the issue since it was first brought to their attention by other teams at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November.

'Closely monitored';

https://www.givemesport.com/mclaren-...itored-fia-f1/


How Porpoising Torpedoed McLaren’s Vegas Dream—Twice
November 27, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com

McLaren pins Las Vegas double DSQ on “unexpected” porpoising, not a setup gamble. McLaren left the Strip empty handed after a bruising Las Vegas Grand Prix that looked, for a few hours at least, like a tidy night’s work: Lando Norris second on the road, Oscar Piastri fourth. Then the scrutineers pulled out the gauges, found too much plank wear, and both cars were disqualified. Team principal Andrea Stella has now spelled out the root cause. It wasn’t an over eager setup or an aggressive ride height gamble. It was porpoising—back with a vengeance and, in McLaren’s case, far worse than anything their data predicted.

“The specific cause that led to the situation was the unexpected occurrence of extensive porpoising, inducing large vertical oscillations of the car,” Stella explained, adding that the phenomenon was “exacerbated by the conditions in which the car operated during the race.” On paper, the infraction was clear. Under post race checks, Norris’ plank measured below the mandatory 9mm at two points—8.88mm front right and 8.93mm right rear—while Piastri’s car tripped three locations at 8.96mm front left, 8.74mm front right and 8.90mm right rear.

McLaren saw trouble coming early. Telemetry during the Grand Prix flagged unexpected bouncing, and the drivers were told to lift and coast to try to save the plank. It didn’t save the day. The cars still failed the scrutineering box. Crucially, Stella insists this wasn’t the by product of McLaren chasing an edge it couldn’t sustain. The team had already raised the car versus practice, he said, building in margin for qualifying and the race. The problem was the margin got wiped out by those vertical hits at speed.

‘Porpoising Torpedoed McLaren’s Vegas Dream’;

https://fastestlap.com/news/how-porp...s-dream-twice/


Norris sees pressure piled on by Verstappen - F1 Qatar GP preview
26 NOV 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

No more room for error: It was a 49-point gap between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen before action got underway in Las Vegas. A bit of wriggle room in a tightening title battle for the McLaren driver. That wiggle room has disappeared. Now, that point gap drops below the 25 points for a Grand Prix win after Norris was disqualified due to excessive plank wear. While Verstappen roared to victory, he also threw all the pressure onto the championship leader.

But don't write Oscar Piastri off just yet, either. It was another rocky race weekend that saw the Australian cross the line in fifth before his disqualification, with the 104-point deficit between himself and Verstappen now no more as they sit on 366 points each. The 24-year-old may be trending downwards compared to the other title protagonists, but the talent and pace shown across the campaign means the McLaren man cannot be ruled out.

For their part, Red Bull Racing needs to find the right set-up straight away, as the Sprint weekend format would eventually strongly penalise Verstappen in the Sprint, making him lose important points to Norris in the championship.

‘No more room for error’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...tar-gp-preview


Oscar Piastri backed to have edge over Lando Norris in Qatar
26 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Jamie Chadwick has tipped Oscar Piastri to have the edge over Lando Norris at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix. The British racer, who made an appearance on the Sky Sports F1 show, highlighted how the changing conditions of the Qatar Grand Prix, compared to circuits where Piastri had struggled, could play into the hands of the young Australian.

“I think in terms of tracks, if you look at Vegas and you look at Qatar, they couldn't be more extreme in terms of differences in track layout, temperature, grip, everything. It's so polar opposite: tyre degradation, everything. If there's any sort of positive feeling going into this weekend, for sure, Oscar should have it," she said.

Piastri has suffered a dip in form in comparison to Norris, particularly since the aftermath of the Italian Grand Prix. The Australian driver has failed to record a top-three finish since the race in Monza. However, Piastri boasts fond memories of racing in Qatar, finishing ahead of Norris in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Grand Prix in Lusail.

‘Oscar Piastri backed to have edge’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/oscar...orris-in-qatar


George Russell has privately made a Max Verstappen prediction ahead of Qatar GP showdown
26 November 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

George Russell privately thinks Max Verstappen will win the Qatar Grand Prix. Speaking on the Formel Schmidt show after the race in Las Vegas about the penultimate event of the Formula 1 season, Schmidt said: “Of course, there are super-fast corners in Qatar. They’re not particularly long in terms of radius, but they are fast.”

“And George Russell told us yesterday that his favourite is Max Verstappen. Fast corners at Silverstone, Suzuka; Red Bull were at the front there, and he’ll be at the front again. Not good news for McLaren. It will increase the pressure. I’m really curious to see what McLaren will do now, whether there will be team orders, covert or not.”

“But as I said, I can’t imagine that they will hold back. So, they’ll fight to the last moment, because you might only become world champion once in your life, and if you still have a theoretical chance, and on paper it’s as big as Verstappen’s, then you almost have to take it.”

“His favourite is Max Verstappen”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/geo...r-gp-showdown/


IT'S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we're excited about ahead of the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
Chris Medland breaks down the key talking points as Formula 1 heads to the Qatari desert.
26 Nov 2025
Chris Medland
Formula One - Official Site

The McLaren disqualifications. Just when you thought this season couldn’t get any more exciting, think again.
Verstappen’s gains in the title race. A podium finish in Qatar might not be enough, because despite losing his 18 points from Las Vegas, Lando Norris can still win the championship on Sunday.

The final Sprint weekend. Those points could be crucial not only for the top three, but for Teams’ Championship permutations, too.
The Teams' fight is hotting up…

Hamilton’s search for a first Ferrari podium. While he also went winless in 2023 before taking two victories last year, Hamilton is now on the verge of going an entire season without a podium for the first time ever.
In a quite remarkable turn of events given how strong Ferrari were this time last year, they could go an entire season without a victory for the first time since 2021.

‘5 storylines’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...kolMlHibnM1lbv