Is this the F1 lobby? McLaren disqualified over a plank thicker by one millimetre

The McLaren team has just experienced something no team wants for its drivers in any race — let alone in the final stretch of the season while fighting for the drivers’ championship: disqualification.

After championship leader Lando Norris finished in second place despite fuel issues near the end of the race, and Oscar Piastri secured fourth, the stewards summoned the British team for violating the technical regulations. The investigation focused on excessive plank wear on the underside of the car, whose minimum thickness is set at nine millimetres.

“The thickness of the plank assembly on the underside of the car, when measured in parallel with the lower surface, must be 10 mm ± 0.2 mm. A minimum thickness of 9 mm will be permitted due to wear, and compliance with this regulation will be checked around specific holes,” states Article 3.5.9 (e) of the 2025 Formula 1 Technical Regulations.

This type of infringement leading to disqualification has already been seen this season — in China with Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), and then in Bahrain with Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) — meaning the strict decision to disqualify both McLaren drivers was merely a formality.

More than four hours after the race, the FIA officially confirmed the disqualifications of Norris and Piastri, whose plank measurements were nearly identical: 8.88 mm and 8.93 mm, both below the permitted limit.

“The rear part of the plank on cars 4 and 81 was measured and found to be below the minimum allowed thickness of 9 mm as prescribed by Article 3.5.9 of the technical regulations. The relevant measurements are: RHS front 8.88 mm, RHS rear 8.93 mm,” the FIA document stated.

The FIA also noted that the team attempted to argue mitigating circumstances, claiming there was additional and unexpected bouncing throughout the weekend, as well as limited opportunities for testing on the first day due to weather conditions and reduced running time in the second practice session. However, the FIA was clear that there was no possible outcome other than the standard penalty of disqualification.

After the disqualification, Norris lost 18 points and Piastri 12 — significantly altering the championship standings. Meanwhile, reigning champion Max Verstappen earned 25 points for winning in Las Vegas, effectively halving Norris’s lead heading into the weekend, and greatly improving his chances of defending the title.

With two races and one Sprint remaining and 58 points available, Norris has 390 points, Piastri is second with 366, and Red Bull’s Verstappen sits in third with the same number of points as the Australian.

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George Russell moves up to second place in the final Las Vegas Grand Prix classification, and joining him on the last step of the podium will be his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This also pushes both Haas drivers — Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman — into the points.

The next race is scheduled for November 28–30 in Qatar, followed by the season finale a week later in Abu Dhabi.

FORMULA 1 - TOP 10 DRIVERS

1. Norris - 408 pts

2. Piastri - 378 pts

3. Verstappen - 366 pts

4. Russell - 291 pts

5. Leclerc - 222 pts

6. Hamilton - 149 pts

7. Antonelli - 132 pts

8. Albon - 73 pts

9. Hadjar - 47 pts

10. Hulkenberg - 45 pts