Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where both McLaren drivers were penalized for technical infractions after the race.
Norris claimed the second position behind the race winner, Max Verstappen, while Piastri finished in fourth place. However, their cars did not pass the post-race technical inspections due to excessive skid-block wear.
The FIA confirmed that the disqualification was a result of the skid-block wear issue, nullifying their race results and shaking up the championship standings with only two races remaining.
Currently, Norris leads Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points heading into the upcoming Qatar race and the season finale in Abu Dhabi next month.
In a post-race statement, Norris expressed disappointment over the situation, acknowledging the team’s need to address performance issues. Piastri also voiced frustration over the disqualification but emphasized the importance of regrouping for the final two races.
McLaren issued an apology to Norris and Piastri for the technical breach, acknowledging the unintentional nature of the violation and the impact on their championship campaigns. The team is investigating the reasons behind the skid-block wear issue and remains focused on the remaining races.
FIA scrutineers found that the planks beneath the McLaren cars were below the required 9mm thickness, indicating a potential violation of ride height regulations and resulting in their exclusion from the final race classification.