Verstappen back in the hunt after McLaren disqualifications
11/24/2025 2:15:02 PM
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday and roared back into the Formula One title battle after the shock disqualification of McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris, who started on pole and finished second, and fourth-placed Piastri were ruled out for excessive skid plank wear hours after the race had ended and the podium champagne been sprayed.
The development left Britain's Norris 24 points clear of four-times world champion Verstappen and Australian Piastri, now tied, with two rounds to go in Qatar and Abu Dhabi and 58 points available.
Stewards ruled out the McLaren drivers after a post-race FIA inspection found the thickness of the plank assembly was below the permitted minimum.
The FIA said it strongly believed the breach was unintentional and there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules.
"It’s frustrating to lose so many points," said Norris in a team statement.
"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. Nothing I can do will change that now, instead full focus switches to Qatar, where we'll aim to go out and deliver the best possible performance in every session."
George Russell, last year's winner of the floodlit race and like Norris making his 150th start, moved up to second with te
Norris, who started on pole and finished second, and fourth-placed Piastri were ruled out for excessive skid plank wear hours after the race had ended and the podium champagne been sprayed.
The development left Britain's Norris 24 points clear of four-times world champion Verstappen and Australian Piastri, now tied, with two rounds to go in Qatar and Abu Dhabi and 58 points available.
Stewards ruled out the McLaren drivers after a post-race FIA inspection found the thickness of the plank assembly was below the permitted minimum.
The FIA said it strongly believed the breach was unintentional and there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules.
"It’s frustrating to lose so many points," said Norris in a team statement.
"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. Nothing I can do will change that now, instead full focus switches to Qatar, where we'll aim to go out and deliver the best possible performance in every session."
George Russell, last year's winner of the floodlit race and like Norris making his 150th start, moved up to second with te