Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Norris finished second in the race behind Max Verstappen, while Piastri ended up in fourth place. However, both drivers were disqualified due to their cars failing technical checks, specifically for excessive skid-block wear.
The FIA released a statement confirming the disqualification reason, nullifying their results and shaking up the title race with only two rounds remaining. Norris now leads Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points before the upcoming race in Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Norris expressed disappointment, attributing the disqualification to car issues affecting their performance during the race. He emphasized the team’s focus on delivering optimal performance in the next race in Qatar. Piastri also expressed frustration over the disqualification but highlighted the need to regroup and strive for maximum points in the remaining races.
McLaren issued an apology to both drivers for the disqualification, acknowledging the technical breach that led to the incident. The team cited unexpected car behavior during the race and accidental damage as factors contributing to the violation. Despite the setback, McLaren remains committed to performing well in the final two races of the season.
FIA scrutineers found that the planks beneath the McLaren cars were below the required minimum thickness of 9mm, indicating an illegal ride height. This discovery led to the disqualification of both cars from the race results.