Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have now spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where both McLaren drivers were penalized for technical issues post-race. Norris, who finished second behind race winner Max Verstappen, and Piastri, who finished fourth, had their results nullified due to excessive skid-block wear, shaking up the championship race with just two races remaining.
With Norris now holding a 24-point lead over Piastri and Verstappen, the upcoming race in Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi are crucial for the championship battle. Norris expressed his disappointment over the disqualification, attributing it to car issues that affected their performance. Piastri echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need to regroup and maximize points in the final two rounds.
In response to the disqualification, McLaren issued an apology to Norris and Piastri, acknowledging the breach of technical regulations regarding skid thickness. The team cited unexpected car behavior during the race as a contributing factor and assured their full focus on the remaining races despite the setback.
The FIA scrutineers identified that the skid planks beneath the McLaren cars were below the mandated 9mm thickness at the end of the race, resulting in their disqualification from the final standings. This ruling indicated that the cars were operating with an unauthorized ride height, leading to the penalty.