Norris and Piastri DQ’d from Las Vegas GP as FIA Enforces Skid Plank Rule, Reigniting Title Fight

When the checkered flag waved over the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit at 11 p.m. on November 23, 2025, Lando Norris was celebrating a near-certain path to the Formula One title. Two hours later, he was staring at a disqualification notice. So was his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Both McLaren Racing Limited cars — the MCL39s — had failed post-race technical inspection: their skid planks were worn down to less than 9mm, violating Article 3.5.9 of the FIA’s technical regulations. The ruling, delivered just after 1:30 a.m. local time, didn’t just erase their podium finishes — it flipped the entire 2025 championship on its head.

How a Tiny Piece of Carbon Fiber Changed Everything

Skid planks are the titanium-and-carbon-fiber strips bolted beneath every F1 car. They’re not glamorous. They don’t generate downforce. But they’re critical for safety and fairness. If they wear too thin, it means the car is running dangerously low to the track — potentially gaining aerodynamic advantage by riding too close to the asphalt. The FIA mandates a minimum thickness of 9mm. Any less? Disqualification. No exceptions. No mercy.

McLaren argued they were victims of circumstance. Team director Andrea Stella told stewards the car had been bouncing uncontrollably during the race — a known issue on the bumpy Las Vegas Strip. Practice had been cut short by rain. Testing time was limited. And yes, the wear was less than in previous 2025 cases — like when Charles Leclerc was DQ’d in Spa 2023, or George Russell in 2024. But stewards didn’t care. Jo Bauer and Tim Goss of the FIA, seated in the hearing room at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit paddock, made it clear: intent doesn’t matter. The rule is binary. Wear below 9mm? Gone.

The Championship Shakes Itself Awake

Before Las Vegas, Norris led the Drivers’ Championship with 390 points — a 30-point cushion over Piastri, and 42 over Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing. Now? Norris has 366. So does Piastri. So does Verstappen. All three tied. The only tiebreaker? Race wins. Piastri has two victories this season. Verstappen has six. Norris? Just one. That’s why Piastri sits second, Verstappen third. The math is brutal: with only 58 points left in the final two races, the title is wide open.

The ripple effect was immediate. Carlos Sainz of Scuderia Ferrari moved from third to second. Charles Leclerc jumped to third. And Verstappen? He went from fourth to third on the podium — and now, he’s a legitimate title contender again. "It’s like someone pulled the plug on a dream," said Kieran Jackson of The Independent. "Norris had this in his pocket. Now he’s got to fight like hell — and he’s got two races to do it."

What Happened to the McLaren MCL39?

The MCL39, designed by Peter Prodromou, had been a standout this season — fast, reliable, and surprisingly consistent on street circuits. But Las Vegas exposed a flaw: the car’s suspension setup, tuned for grip on the rough pavement, created violent vertical oscillations. The team knew about the bouncing — they’d seen it in simulations. But they didn’t have enough track time to fix it. Rain canceled Friday’s practice. Sunday’s qualifying was compromised. By race day, they were flying blind.

McLaren’s engineers later confirmed the rear skid plank on Norris’s car measured 7.1mm. Piastri’s was 7.4mm. Both were below the threshold. The FIA’s second measurement — conducted with McLaren reps present — showed even lower readings. "It wasn’t a cheat," said Rachel Holt, McLaren’s sporting director. "It was a compromise we didn’t know would cost us everything."

What’s Next? The Final Two Races

The season now hinges on two races: the Lusail International CircuitDoha, Qatar on December 6–7, featuring a sprint race that awards extra points, and the season finale at the Yas Marina CircuitAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on December 13–14.

Verstappen has momentum. He’s won six races this year. He’s calm under pressure. He’s won titles before — three times. Norris? He’s never won one. He’s been on the brink before — twice in 2024 — and lost. Piastri? He’s hungry, but he’s never led a championship. This is his moment.

McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, said the team will review every component of the MCL39 before Doha. "We’re not giving up," he told reporters. "But we’re also not pretending this didn’t happen."

History Repeats — Again

This isn’t the first time FIA rigidity has upended a title race. In 2021, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were locked in a battle that ended in a controversial collision in Abu Dhabi. In 2023, Leclerc’s disqualification in Spa handed the win to George Russell — and shifted momentum. In 2024, Russell’s own DQ for skid plank wear cost him a podium — and possibly a championship.

The message from the FIA is clear: technical rules are not suggestions. They’re the bedrock. And in F1, where margins are measured in millimeters, even a tiny slip can cost you everything.