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November 27.2025

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McLaren’s Las Vegas GP Disqualification: Lessons Learned in Formula 1

McLaren Formula 1 car sparking on track during night race.

A Rollercoaster of Disqualification: McLaren’s Las Vegas GP Saga

McLaren has been through the wringer after its double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last weekend. Both drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, saw their strong finishes vanish following intense post-race checks. This disqualification has serious implications, not only affecting the drivers' standings but potentially reshaping their strategies for the upcoming races.

The Unexpected Challenges of Porpoising

Team principal Andrea Stella revealed that the situation quickly escalated during the race. "From the early laps of the race, it was clear from the data that the level of unexpected porpoising would be a concern," he said. The term 'porpoising' refers to an aerodynamic phenomenon where the car bounces on the track due to a complex interplay of speed and downforce. For McLaren, this unexpected hurdle translated into excessive wear on the skid plates, leading to their disqualification.

Conditions and Decisions: The Build-Up to Disqualification

The team had faced a challenging build-up, with practice sessions marred by red flags and damp conditions. However, Stella was adamant that they made cautious setup choices, adding safety margins to their ride height. Yet, the demanding circuit conditions combined with the car's unpredictable behavior led to significant vertical oscillations that they had not anticipated. "Our monitoring of the situation allowed us to gear our strategies accordingly, yet it was not enough to prevent the disqualification," he noted.

Learning and Moving Forward

The fallout from the Las Vegas GP has sparked discussions about how penalties should be enforced in F1. Stella acknowledged the breach was marginal and hinted that the FIA may want to reconsider penalties for rules broken unintentionally. After all, every race teaches teams valuable lessons. As McLaren heads into the final race rounds, the team must adapt and recalibrate its strategies to remain competitive against formidable opponents like Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

While this disqualification is a hard pill to swallow for McLaren fans, the team’s resilience and ability to learn from adversity could prove beneficial in upcoming races. It’s a potent reminder that in Formula 1, every moment counts.

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Adrenaline Affair

McLaren’s Las Vegas GP Disqualification: Lessons Learned in Formula 1

A Rollercoaster of Disqualification: McLaren’s Las Vegas GP Saga

The Unexpected Challenges of Porpoising

Conditions and Decisions: The Build-Up to Disqualification

Learning and Moving Forward

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