Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after their cars were found not to comply with technical regulations.

Norris appeared to have moved a step closer to sealing his first Formula 1 world title with a second-place finish behind reigning champion Max Verstappen in Nevada, having started out in pole position.

But shortly after Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull, Norris learned that he and McLaren team-mate Piastri – who had finished fourth – were under investigation due to excessive skid block wear.

Official confirmation of the stunning double disqualification arrived at around 10am GMT, a decision which leaves Verstappen level with Piastri in the championship standings on 366 points.

While Norris remains top of the leaderboard, the 26-year-old Briton finds himself with a lead of just 24 points ahead of the penultimate round of the F1 season in Qatar next weekend.

‘The skid blocks on both cars were measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations,’ the stewards’ document read.

‘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.’

The statement went on to reveal that McLaren had argued ‘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.’

While this claim was rejected by the stewards, it was acknowledged that McLaren’s rule breach in Sin City was likely unintentional.

‘The FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations,’ the document read.

There are 58 points up for grabs with two Grand Prix and one Sprint remaining to determine the 2025 world champion.

The curtain will come down on the Formula 1 season in a fortnight’s time at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, where Norris came out on top last season.

What Lando Norris must do to win the F1 world title

There will be 33 points on offer in Qatar’s Sprint race, with Norris requiring at least a 25-point cushion over Piastri or Verstappen to be crowned champion.

This means that Norris would become Britain’s 11th world champion if he manages to outscore Piastri and Verstappen by two points across the weekend.

It is important to note that Norris will not be able to win the title in the Sprint race alone.

After all, should Norris win and claim eight points, and both Piastri and Verstappen fail to accumulate any points, the gap would be 32, with 50 remaining in the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

F1 points scoring system

In the F1 points scoring system, the top 10 finishers in each Grand Prix earn points from 25 (for first place) down to one (for tenth place).

In a Sprint Race, points are handed out to those drivers that finish in the top eight, from eight down to one.

As of 2025, a fastest lap point is no longer awarded. Half points can be awarded awarded if a race is forced to be shortened. 

When is the Qatar Grand Prix and how to watch?

The F1 season is broadcast in the UK on both Sky Sports and Channel 4.

Sky Sports airs the races, plus practice rounds and qualifying, live, while free-to-air Channel 4 shows highlights of each race following the day’s action.

Viewers with Sky Sports as part of their TV package can stream the race via its app. The F1 season is also available with unlimited Sky Sports on a Now TV membership.