Lando Norris’ situation suddenly became more complicated after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where McLaren saw both cars disqualified for a floor irregularity. The British driver had finished the race in second place, a result that would have allowed him to consolidate his championship lead. However, the FIA decision turned the standings upside down, reducing his margin over Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, now level just behind him, to only 24 points. With two races and a Sprint remaining, the fight for the title has been completely reopened.
Norris: “A disqualification difficult to accept”
McLaren left the U.S. weekend not only with a setback on track but also with psychological challenges. Excessive wear on the car’s skid blocks led to a double exclusion that caught the team by surprise, convincing many observers that internal pressure has significantly increased. Lando Norris, who had been in control of his title bid, now faces an unexpected situation beyond his control at the most sensitive moment of the season.
The English driver commented with the calmness reflecting his maturity over the past years: “A frustrating end to the race. In the final laps, we had to manage several situations, and now we know it was due to problems with our car, which unfortunately led to the disqualification. It’s hard to accept losing so many points,” he said. His awareness of the circumstances pushed him to take a practical view of the situation.
Lando immediately shifted his focus to the Qatar Grand Prix, avoiding dwelling on what happened: “As a team, we always try to achieve the maximum, and today we didn’t find the right balance. At this point, there’s nothing I can do to change the outcome, so my concentration moves to Qatar, where we’ll aim to get back on track and deliver the best performance possible in every session.”
Jos Verstappen intensifies the criticism: “A major mistake”
On the other side, the Verstappen family read the incident very differently. Jos, Max’s father, highlighted the impact of the disqualification on the championship fight, pointing to McLaren’s significant responsibility: “This is a big mistake from McLaren, a major mistake. Why push so far to the limit?” he said, analyzing the stewards’ decision. According to him, the pressure on the Woking team in the remaining races will now be enormous.
The former Dutch driver explained that, in his view, the situation was caused by overly aggressive choices in car management: “Maybe it was really a mistake, or maybe the car just doesn’t work as well and they have to push it. I spoke briefly with Max before he left Las Vegas. He already knew they would be disqualified,” he stated.
Jos believes this pressure could deeply influence McLaren’s behavior through the end of the season: “The pressure in McLaren is huge now, and they will feel it. It’s still true that if Max wins the remaining races and Lando Norris finishes second each time, Lando would become world champion. But Oscar Piastri is still there too, and he won’t be too happy at the moment either.”
Norris has an opportunity to rise
For his part, Lando Norris can turn this critical moment into an opportunity to show how much he has grown mentally. The title remains in his hands, but it will require the ability to isolate himself from the problems in Las Vegas and make the most of a car that, overall, has still proven to be the best. Managing pressure, reacting calmly, and maintaining clarity will be decisive factors. The next two races will determine whether this episode is merely a setback or a turning point for his championship bid.
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