McLaren bombshell: Norris and Piastri could be disqualified from Las Vegas GP for illegal plank wear. McLaren faces potential disqualification at the Las Vegas GP.

The Las Vegas GP standings, as well as the championship battle, could experience an unexpected twist. Both McLaren cars came under investigation after routine post-race scrutineering revealed excessive plank wear.

According to the regulations, the plank should have maintained a minimum thickness of 9 millimeters. Post-race inspections, as reported in the FIA statement, showed that the papaya-colored cars did not meet this standard: a breach that carries a concrete, and almost inevitable, risk of disqualification.

“The rear plank was measured on both cars according to the legality documentation submitted by the team, in accordance with TD039 M, point 1.2 b) i). The thickness recorded was below 9 mm on both vehicles, a value representing the minimum required by Article 3.5.9 e) of the Technical Regulations,” the FIA statement read.

Norris had finished second in the Grand Prix but visibly slowed down in the final laps, losing around 15 seconds to Max Verstappen and significantly reducing his lead over George Russell. This was a team strategy, asking him to perform lift and coast maneuvers in certain sections of the track.

Data analysis clearly shows Lando Norris lifting off in multiple areas of the circuit, sometimes doing it twice on the same straight along the Las Vegas Strip. Piastri, meanwhile, finished in fourth place, also benefiting from a penalty given to Andrea Kimi Antonelli for a jump start before the lights went out.

Since this is a technical regulation violation, if the irregularity is confirmed, it would automatically result in disqualification. In that case, Max Verstappen would benefit, collecting 25 points and narrowing his gap to Norris to just 24 points.

Suddenly Max Verstappen’s fourth drivers’ title is very much alive.

The stewards have summoned McLaren representatives for a hearing. Whatever explanation the team offers, history shows plank wear breaches are almost impossible to overturn. McLaren’s Las Vegas weekend – and possibly their entire 2025 season – now hangs by a thread less than 9 mm thick.