By Harshit
LAS VEGAS, NOVEMBER 23, 2025
Max Verstappen seized victory under the bright desert lights of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, but the real drama unfolded long after the checkered flag fell. What should have been a straightforward celebration for Red Bull turned into a tense, slow-moving technical controversy that could reshape the Formula One title fight with just two race weekends remaining.
McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second on track and Oscar Piastri came fourth, results that—on paper—solidified Norris’ lead in the world championship and kept McLaren in a strong position heading into Qatar. Instead, both drivers spent the hours after the race under investigation for excessive plank wear, a technical infringement that has historically resulted in immediate disqualification.
Nearly four hours after the race, the stewards had yet to release an official ruling, leaving McLaren, the paddock, and fans waiting anxiously.
A Victory for Verstappen, A Crisis for McLaren
The Las Vegas GP itself was one of Verstappen’s cleaner wins of the season, a strategic and controlled drive that allowed him to capitalize on Norris’ poor start and McLaren’s lack of long-run pace. Norris admitted post-race that his Turn 1 mistake was “pretty embarrassing,” saying he braked too late, ran wide, and handed Verstappen the clear air he needed.
“I’m here to win races,” Norris said. “Second is a great result, but I messed up Turn 1 badly. It didn’t cost me the win, but it cost me the chance to control the early pace. We just weren’t fast enough overall.”
Oscar Piastri’s race was a bruising one from the start. Contact from Liam Lawson at Turn 1 pushed him wide, and he spent much of the night fighting to recover places.
“I feel like I was the only one who actually braked to make the corner,” Piastri said. “It was tough from start to finish—too many little mistakes and being stuck in traffic hurt us.”
Still, both McLaren drivers salvaged valuable points—until scrutineering raised alarms.
The Plank Wear Problem: A Familiar F1 Controversy
The FIA’s technical delegate reported that the rearmost skid plank on both McLarens measured below the minimum 9mm thickness required by regulations. That immediately triggered a referral to the stewards.
This is not a new issue in Formula One.
Lewis Hamilton was disqualified earlier this season in China for the same infringement. Charles Leclerc and Hamilton were famously disqualified from the 2023 United States GP for identical reasons. Even Michael Schumacher lost a victory in 1994 Belgium for excessive plank wear, one of the most controversial technical disqualifications in F1 history.
Plank wear, while technical, is fundamental to safety. If teams run their floors too low, they gain aerodynamic downforce—effectively free lap time—but also risk bottoming out dangerously.
The complication in Las Vegas is the unusual weekend conditions. FP2 was shortened by manhole cover issues, FP3 was compromised by rain, and overall setup data was limited. Historically, reduced practice correlates with increased risk of plank wear penalties.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella hinted at this, saying, “Limited running always makes preparation for these challenges harder.”
Still, rules are rules—and the FIA typically treats plank infringements as strict-liability violations.
What a Double Disqualification Would Mean
On provisional results, Norris extended his championship lead to 30 points over teammate Piastri, while Verstappen trailed Piastri by 12.
If both McLarens are disqualified:
• Norris drops to 390 points
• Piastri drops to 366
• Verstappen rises to 366
That means:
• Norris leads by 24 instead of 30
• Piastri and Verstappen tie for second
• The title fight becomes a three-way showdown
Most importantly: Verstappen becomes the biggest beneficiary. His deficit to Norris would shrink dramatically with only Qatar and Abu Dhabi remaining.
Even a small change in margin matters—only 58 points remain available (including the Qatar sprint).
A ruling against McLaren would turn the championship into a razor-thin contest.
Inside the Scrutineering and Stewards Process
After every race, all cars undergo mandatory checks for:
• weight
• fuel samples
• tire pressures
• torque limits
• oil consumption
Additionally, several cars are randomly selected for deeper technical inspection.
Plank wear checks fall into this category. At least one McLaren was chosen at random. Once an issue was found, FIA protocol requires checking the other car as well.
If the FIA had randomly selected different cars, McLaren might have escaped unpunished entirely. That randomness adds a bitter twist for the team—and a sharp reminder that in F1, legality is partly a game of probability.
Team representatives typically enter stewards’ hearings prepared with every possible argument: track bumps, unusual conditions, damage, or inconsistent measurements. Still, plank wear disqualifications historically allow little wiggle room.
McLaren’s post-race press conference was delayed, a telltale sign of behind-the-scenes tension.
Drivers React to a Night of Uncertainty
Norris left the paddock more than 90 minutes before news broke of the investigation, looking visibly frustrated. Piastri, surprisingly calm, shook hands with his mechanics before departing.
“We’ll see what I can do in the last two weeks,” Piastri said. “All I can do is prepare well and try to get good results.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, celebrated quietly, aware that the official standings could still tilt in his favor.
“It was a good race for us,” he said. “But obviously we have to wait and see what happens.”
The tension was palpable across the grid.
Other Penalties and Fallout
• Gabriel Bortoleto received a five-place grid penalty for Qatar after his collision with Lance Stroll.
• Lewis Hamilton, enduring the worst season of his career, said he was “not looking forward to next season,” a startling admission for the seven-time champion.
• Media circles buzzed with rumors about remaining technical checks—not just plank wear but potential fuel sample concerns.
The paddock atmosphere felt like a throwback to classic F1 political chaos.
Why This Matters for the 2025 Championship
The 2025 F1 season has delivered one of the closest multi-driver battles since 2010. A technical disqualification this late in the year risks:
• Expanding Verstappen’s title hopes
• Triggering protests from teams
• Adding fuel to debates about sprint formats and limited practice
• Possibly altering championship momentum at a critical moment
If McLaren is cleared, Norris maintains a healthy lead with two rounds left.
If not, all three title contenders enter Qatar separated by only 24 points.
That is the difference between a controlled finish and an all-out war.
The Stakes Heading Into Qatar
Two race weekends remain:
• Qatar Grand Prix + Sprint
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
A maximum of 58 points remain on the table.
If McLaren keeps their points, Norris remains firmly ahead.
If the FIA strips the results, Verstappen—who appeared out of the fight just weeks ago—re-enters the championship with real momentum.
The stewards’ decision could define the championship narrative.