Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where both McLaren drivers were penalized for technical infractions post-race. Norris, who initially finished second behind Max Verstappen, and Piastri, who came in fourth, had their results voided due to excessive skid-block wear, affecting the title race with only two races remaining.
With this setback, Norris now holds a 24-point lead over Piastri and Verstappen, setting the stage for the upcoming race in Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Norris expressed disappointment over the disqualification, citing issues with the car’s performance and emphasizing the team’s focus on delivering a strong performance in the next races.
Piastri echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging the team’s need to regroup and push for optimal results in the remaining rounds. McLaren issued an apology to both drivers for the technical breach, explaining the circumstances that led to the disqualification and affirming their commitment to the remaining races.
The FIA’s scrutiny revealed that the skid thickness beneath the McLaren cars fell below the required minimum of 9mm, resulting in their exclusion from the final classification for operating with an unauthorized ride height.