Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at risk of DSQ over plank wear
McLaren are in trouble with the FIA stewards after the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
McLaren face a double FIA investigation for both of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s cars following the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The rearmost skid of both Norris and Piastri’s McLarens are under scrutiny after being measured as less than 9mm - the minimum thickness required by TR Article 3.5.9 e).
FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer referred the matter to the stewards following post-race checks on the McLarens, and both cars are being investigated for an alleged breach of the regulations.
Recent history points to the McLarens being excluded from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year for the same breach.
Such a decision would have huge ramifications for the 2025 F1 title race.
If Norris and Piastri were both disqualified, Piastri and Max Verstappen would each be just 24 points behind the Briton heading into the final two races of the season.
Norris finished second behind Verstappen in Sin City, while Piastri was fourth.
Both McLarens under scrutiny
Sky Sports F1 pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz first broke the news on his post-race Notebook.
However, he initially understood that only Norris's car was subject to an investigation.
"On the face of it, this is a disqualification for both McLarens, a clear breach of the rules on every kind of normal stewards' investigation and result that we've seen," he said.
"When the rear-most skid block is less than 9mm, there's very little McLaren can do to try and claim force majeure or that something was happening. They are trying that, as we understand.
"There are all sorts of reasons McLaren will be explaining as to why they maybe weren't able to get the true read of their skid-block wear.
"Maybe they thought it was going to be a two-stop race. Maybe the bumps were worse than expected. Maybe they didn't get enough of a read on the conditions in practice.
"But it doesn't matter. If you run your car too low you are getting an advantage that the other teams would consider unfair because it's breaking the rules."
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