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November 24.2025

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How McLaren's Double Disqualification in Vegas Has Changed the F1 Championship Odds

McLaren F1 car at Las Vegas Grand Prix, high-speed night race.

The Aftermath of McLaren's Disqualification at Las Vegas

In the wake of an unexpected double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren is finding itself in a tough spot in this F1 season. Team principal Andrea Stella has emphasized that there was no intention to breach regulations; rather, the disqualification arose from a combination of limited practice time and unforeseen performance issues during the race.

A Closer Look at the Technical Regulations

The root cause of McLaren's disqualification stems from a violation of Article 3.5.9 of the F1 Technical Regulations. This regulation mandates that the skid plate on the undercarriage of the car maintains a minimum thickness of nine millimeters. In both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's cars, this threshold was exceeded by minute margins, exemplifying how the regulations allow no room for error.

The Impact on the Championship Race

The implications of this ruling have sent shockwaves through the championship standings. Up until this point, Norris had enjoyed a 42-point lead, but following the disqualification, this gap has been reduced to just 24 points. Max Verstappen now has a renewed opportunity in the championship hunt, while questions loom over McLaren’s strategy as they head into the final two races of the season.

Mitigating Circumstances and Team Strategy

Stella underscored mitigating circumstances leading to the breach, citing unusual levels of porpoising that had not been experienced during practice sessions. Cut short by a series of interruptions, the reduced track time hampered engineers’ ability to finalize car setups accurately. Despite the disappointment, the team remains focused, intent on garnering as many points as possible in the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix.

Fan Reactions and Future Implications

Fans and analysts alike are left contemplating the future of both McLaren and the F1 landscape as a whole. Could this shocking disqualification spark changes in team strategy, particularly regarding how they approach practice sessions? The stakes have significantly risen for the remaining races, not only for McLaren but also for competitors still in the title contention. As the adrenaline wears off, the reality of tight margins in F1 comes into sharp focus, serving as a reminder that every millimeter counts in this high-octane sport.

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