Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have now spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Norris, who finished second behind Max Verstappen, and Piastri, who came in fourth, had their cars fail post-race technical checks due to excessive skid-block wear.
The FIA confirmed that this issue caused their disqualification, nullifying their results and shaking up the title race with only two rounds remaining. Norris currently leads Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points heading into the Qatar race this week and the Abu Dhabi season finale next month.
Reflecting on the race, Norris expressed frustration over the disqualification, attributing it to car issues that impacted their performance. He emphasized shifting focus to the upcoming Qatar race to deliver the best performance possible.
Similarly, Piastri expressed disappointment at leaving the weekend empty-handed due to the disqualification related to skid wear. He stressed the need to regroup, refocus, and aim for strong results in the final two rounds at tracks where they have performed well before.
McLaren issued an apology to Norris and Piastri for the disqualification, acknowledging the breach of Technical Regulations that led to the skid thickness issue. The team highlighted unexpected porpoising during the race, causing excessive contact with the ground, and is investigating the reasons behind this behavior.
Despite the setback, McLaren remains committed to the remaining races of the season. The FIA scrutineers found that the planks beneath the McLaren cars were below the required 9mm thickness, resulting in an illegal ride height and disqualification from the race.