In a dramatic reversal at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the question of why was McLaren disqualified looms large after both cars from the team failed post-race technical checks.
What happened
- The team’s drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, originally finished 2nd and 4th respectively in Sin City.
- During post-race scrutiny, officials discovered that both McLaren cars had their skid-blocks (wear-planks) under the chassis below the required minimum thickness of 9 mm.
- The breach fell under Article 3.5.9 e) of the F1 technical regulations, which states that a plank must be 10 mm thick when new and may not finish a race below 9 mm.
- Because the rule leaves no discretionary penalties for exceeding wear, the stewards disqualified both cars from the event.
Technical Breakdown: The Why
Here are the key technical details behind the disqualification:
- The “plank” (or skid-block) runs underneath F1 cars to enforce a minimum ride-height, limiting how low teams can run the cars for aerodynamic advantage.
- In this instance, McLaren’s cars had the plank thickness measured at below 9 mm. For example, one car recorded a front-right measurement of 8.88 mm and a right-rear of 8.93 mm. The other car had measurements such as 8.74 mm at front-right and 8.90 mm at rear-right.
- McLaren contended that unexpected porpoising (vertical bouncing of the car) and limited dry-running time contributed to elevated plank wear. They noted that practice sessions were curtailed and weather impacted setup work.
- The governing body accepted that there was no deliberate attempt to break the rule but reiterated that the regulation is black-and-white: if the skid-block falls below 9 mm, the car is not eligible.
Championship Implications
- With Norris and Piastri stripped of their Las Vegas results, the leader’s cushion in the drivers’ standings shrank significantly.
- The team’s disqualification handed a major lifeline to competitors in the title fight and altered the dynamics heading into the final two rounds of the season.
- A major U.S. audience dimension: given the growing interest in Formula 1 stateside and the Las Vegas race being a marquee U.S. stop, the outcome has heightened drama for American viewers and local sponsors alike.
Why Was McLaren Disqualified: Key Take-aways
- The disqualification stems purely from a technical infringement: both cars failed the skid-block minimum thickness check (< 9 mm).
- McLaren did not argue intent, but the regulation offers no alternative to exclusion once the metric is breached.
- With only a handful of races remaining, every point now matters—and this penalty makes the title fight more unpredictable.
What Happens Next
The final two events of the season — in Qatar and Abu Dhabi — now carry even greater weight for McLaren. The team must ensure absolute regulatory compliance, given that even marginal deviations in setup or wear can have championship-deciding consequences.
Final Thought:
The question why was McLaren disqualified has a clear answer rooted in technical regulation and measurement. While the team may feel aggrieved by circumstance, only the result will matter in the title fight. Stay tuned as the season concludes—and feel free to share your thoughts below.
