Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where both McLaren drivers had their results nullified due to technical issues.
Norris, who initially finished second behind race winner Max Verstappen, and Piastri, who finished fourth, were disqualified after their cars failed post-race checks for excessive skid-block wear. This has shaken up the championship standings with just two races remaining.
As a result, Norris now leads Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points heading into the upcoming race in Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi next month. Norris expressed his frustration, acknowledging the team’s need to balance performance better in future races.
Piastri also expressed disappointment over the disqualification, emphasizing the team’s focus on regrouping and maximizing points in the final two rounds.
McLaren issued an apology to both drivers for the breach of technical regulations that led to the disqualification. The team explained that the skid thickness on both cars was slightly below the required minimum due to unexpected performance issues during the race.
FIA scrutineers found that the planks beneath the McLaren cars were thinner than the regulated 9mm, indicating a violation of ride height rules and resulting in their exclusion from the race classification.
Despite the setback, McLaren remains committed to performing strongly in the remaining races of the season.