Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced a setback in their Formula One careers as they were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite Norris finishing behind Max Verstappen and Piastri securing fourth place, both drivers were penalized due to a technical violation. Post-race inspections revealed that the planks under their McLaren cars were thinner than the required 9mm thickness, resulting in an illegal ride height and subsequent disqualification from the 22nd race of the 2025 season.
This disqualification marked the first in Norris and Piastri’s F1 tenure, joining a small group of drivers who have faced similar penalties. Notably, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also suffered disqualifications earlier this year in a separate incident at the Chinese Grand Prix. The disqualification not only affected the points standings but also added more suspense to the championship race, with Verstappen now tied with Piastri and Hamilton trailing Norris by 24 points.
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The issue of disqualifications has affected multiple drivers over the years, with instances like Nico Hulkenberg’s first disqualification after a long F1 career and George Russell’s unfortunate disqualification for an underweight car in the Belgian Grand Prix. These incidents highlight the strict regulations and consequences in the competitive world of Formula One racing.
