The Las Vegas Plank: McLaren's Double DQ

A: The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix brought a shocking twist for McLaren, as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race.

B: Both of them? That's quite rare, especially after Norris finished P2 and Piastri P4. What exactly happened?

A: Indeed, it was McLaren's first-ever double disqualification in Formula 1 history. The reason was a technical infringement concerning the skid blocks, often called the 'plank,' on the underside of their cars.

B: The plank? I remember that being a pretty strict rule. What was the specific violation?

A: Exactly. Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations stipulates a minimum thickness of 9mm for these skid blocks. Post-race inspections found excessive wear on both MCL39s, making them thinner than that required minimum.

B: So, even a tiny bit of wear beyond the limit leads to a disqualification, even if it's unintentional?

A: That's the letter of the law. The FIA detected wear below the 9mm threshold, and in F1, technical compliance is non-negotiable. It was a very significant moment, especially for a top team like McLaren. Despite the clear infringement, McLaren had a defense, right? They didn't just accept it immediately.

B: Absolutely. They put forward a case based on mitigating circumstances. Their main points were unexpected porpoising during the race itself, which they hadn't seen in practice. Plus, there was limited practice time due to the weather, which meant less data to anticipate this kind of wear. They maintained the breach was entirely unintentional.

A: That makes sense. You're pushing the limits, trying to find performance, and sometimes you just... misjudge. How did the stewards respond to that? Did they buy the 'unintentional' part?

B: They did, actually. The stewards acknowledged that McLaren's breach wasn't intentional and certainly not a deliberate attempt to cheat. They were clear on that. However, the rulebook is quite stringent when it comes to technical infringements like this. Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations, specifically the minimum plank thickness, leaves very little wiggle room.

A: So, even with the understanding that it wasn't malicious, the rule is the rule, no exceptions for intent?

B: Precisely. Precedent dictates that disqualification is really the only penalty for such a technical breach. It's black and white. Team Principal Andrea Stella, to his credit, issued an apology to both the drivers and the fans, acknowledging they simply got it wrong. So, with the ruling confirmed and the team having accepted responsibility, how did the drivers themselves react to this double disqualification? What were Norris and Piastri saying after such a dramatic turn of events?

A: You know, it was a really tough pill to swallow for them. Lando Norris, who had driven a fantastic race to P2, called it a pretty 'frustrating end.' He acknowledged the team was pushing for performance, but conceded they just 'didn't get that balance right' on this occasion.

B: And Piastri, having moved up to P4, must have felt equally gutted, especially after his strong performance earlier in the season. What was his take on it?

A: Absolutely. Oscar Piastri echoed a similar sentiment, describing it as 'disappointing.' He also pointed to the team's drive for maximizing performance, saying they simply 'didn't get it right this time.' It's clear they understand the competitive edge they were trying to gain, even if it backfired.

B: And the championship implications... they're significant, aren't they? Especially for Norris's title bid?

A: Oh, massively. This single event has dramatically reshaped the 2025 Drivers' Championship. Norris's points lead over Max Verstappen and even Piastri was cut down to a mere 24 points. With only two rounds left, that's a razor-thin margin, making the final races incredibly tense.