McLaren Apologizes to Norris, Piastri After Disappointing Las Vegas Disqualifications
McLaren has issued an apology following the disqualification of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Team Principal Andrea Stella described the situation as “extremely disappointing” for both drivers.
Double Disqualification Details
Norris and Piastri, who finished in second and fourth places respectively, were disqualified hours after the 50-lap race. This decision came after officials determined that the skid block wear on both cars fell below the minimum requirement of 9mm thickness.
According to Stella, both cars faced unexpected porpoising during the race, which resulted in extensive ground contact. He stated that McLaren is investigating the causes of this issue, including potential accidental damage that may have contributed to the floor movement.
Team’s Response
The FIA acknowledged that the breach of regulations was unintentional and that no deliberate attempt was made to skirt the rules. Stella expressed regret to both Norris and Piastri for losing valuable championship points at such a critical juncture.
- Both drivers had strong performances throughout the weekend.
- Norris is currently 24 points ahead of Piastri.
- The margin is identical to that separating him from Max Verstappen, who won the Las Vegas race.
Upcoming Races
With 58 points still available from the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix and the Sprint race, the competition remains fierce. The season finale will occur at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Driver Reactions
Norris shared his frustration, stating he had to manage issues toward the end of the race. Initially led to believe this was related to a fuel issue, it became clear that it was connected to the skid block wear.
“It’s frustrating to lose so many points,” he lamented. “As a team, we are always pushing for performance, and today we didn’t achieve the right balance.”
McLaren remains focused on the final races of the season as they aim to recover from this setback.
