The Las Vegas Grand Prix took a major turn with the disqualification de Lando Norris et Oscar piastri, depriving McLaren of its two most valuable points of the race and offering Max Verstappen A breath of fresh air in the fight for the world title. This decision, reached after several hours of deliberation, was motivated by a technical non-conformity concerning excessive wear on the underbody of the cars of the two British and Australian drivers.
The flat bottom in question
Post-race checks revealed that the floor of the McLarens had exceeded the permitted wear limits, falling below the minimum thickness of nine millimeters required by the regulations. This type of infraction, while relatively common in the past, has direct and severe consequences: outright disqualification from the race, with the automatic loss of any points earned. Lando Norris, initially second, and Oscar Piastri, fourth, thus had their positions nullified, resulting in an immediate reshuffling of the overall standings.
A huge impact on the championship
Before this decision, Norris held the championship lead with a comfortable advantage, Piastri in second place. With the double disqualification, Max Verstappen, the race winner, finds himself in a strong position. The gaps have narrowed dramatically: Verstappen is now level on points with Piastri and only 24 points behind Norris. This new situation completely reignites the suspense, as the season draws to a close with only two race weekends remaining: the sprint race and the Grand Prix in Qatar, followed by the final showdown in Abu Dhabi.
A strategic error with serious consequences
The cause of this excessive wear appears to be linked to the McLarens' setup, likely too close to the ground in an effort to maximize performance. This initiative backfired on the team, costing its drivers dearly at a crucial point in the season. The technical regulations leave no room for interpretation, and the FIA did not hesitate to penalize offenders, as it had already done earlier this year for other teams facing similar problems.
Towards a suspenseful end to the season
This double disqualification reshapes the landscape for the world title. Max Verstappen now holds all the cards to remain in contention for a fifth consecutive championship, while Norris still retains a slim chance of maintaining his lead, but will need to perform at his best in the final two races. Piastri, meanwhile, sees his ambitions severely hampered, but remains mathematically in the fight.
The championship is shaping up to be extremely tight, with every point crucial in separating the three contenders. The coming weekends will be decisive.
