Verstappen’s F1 Title Hopes Shockingly Revived After McLaren’s Las Vegas Disqualification

Max Verstappen‘s championship hopes are alive again. Both McLaren drivers were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The ruling came after a dramatic post-race technical inspection on Saturday night.

The FIA stewards found both cars illegal. This stunning turn of events slashed Lando Norris’s championship lead in half. The title fight has been thrown wide open with just two races left.

Technical Failure Derails McLaren’s Night

The issue centered on the car’s skid block. According to FIA regulations, the plank must be at least 9mm thick after a race. Both McLaren MCL39 cars failed this check.

Lando Norris had finished second. His teammate Oscar Piastri finished fourth. Their results were completely erased from the official classification. The team accepted the decision immediately.

This handed vital points to their rivals. George Russell moved up to the podium in third place. Most importantly, Max Verstappen’s winning margin in the championship was drastically reduced.

Championship Math Turns on Its Head

The points swing was monumental. Verstappen arrived in Las Vegas trailing Norris by 49 points. He left the circuit just 24 points behind.

Norris still leads with 390 points. Verstappen and Piastri are now tied for second with 366 points each. Only 86 points are available from the final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

This puts enormous pressure on the McLaren team. A once-comfortable lead now feels very fragile. Verstappen is a master of capitalizing on such opportunities.

Info at your fingertips

Why were the McLaren cars disqualified?

The cars’ skid blocks wore down below the legal minimum thickness. The FIA mandates a 9mm minimum to ensure cars are not running too low to the ground for an performance advantage.

How many points did Lando Norris lose?

Norris lost 18 points from his second-place finish. He also lost the bonus point for setting the fastest lap during the race.

Can McLaren appeal the disqualification?

Yes, the team can appeal the stewards’ decision. However, initial reports indicate they have accepted the findings and will not challenge the ruling.

What tracks host the final two races?

The season concludes with the Qatar Grand Prix on November 30 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 8. Both are traditional season-ending circuits.

Who benefits most from this result?

Max Verstappen is the biggest beneficiary. His Red Bull team now has a realistic, though still difficult, path to a dramatic come-from-behind drivers’ championship victory.

Has this happened to McLaren before?

Yes, similar technical disqualifications have occurred in Formula 1‘s history. Teams often push the limits of wear tolerances, sometimes crossing the line as determined by post-race scrutineering.