McLaren Apologise to Norris and Piastri After Las Vegas GP Disqualifications, Citing “Accidental Damage” Behind Skid Block Wear

McLaren issued a formal apology to drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after both were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, four hours after the chequered flag, due to excessive skid block wear. The team revealed that the infractions were triggered by what they described as “accidental damage” to both cars — damage they say was not representative of their usual setup or intent.

The Las Vegas race initially ended in triumph for McLaren, with Norris taking a commanding second place behind Max Verstappen and expanding his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Piastri crossed the line in fourth, giving the team what appeared to be one of their strongest combined results of the season. But the celebrations quickly cooled as the FIA released its post-race technical report, notifying McLaren that both cars failed legality checks.

According to the FIA regulations, the skid block — the protective plank beneath the car — must maintain a minimum thickness to ensure the car does not run too low, thereby gaining an aerodynamic advantage. Excessive wear is an automatic disqualifying offense. When the stewards applied the standard measurement procedures, both McLaren cars fell outside the allowed tolerance.

In their statement, McLaren expressed disappointment and empathy toward the drivers, recognising the severity of the penalty and the personal effort behind the lost results. The team maintained that the wear did not reflect a deliberate performance choice and was instead the consequence of unforeseen damage sustained during the event.

“We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the outcome,” McLaren said. “The wear identified by the FIA was caused by accidental damage, not an intentional setup or strategy decision. The team accepts the FIA’s findings and respects the regulations.”

The key phrase — “accidental damage” — raises questions about what specific circumstances led to the skid block’s degradation. While McLaren did not elaborate publicly, teams often face unpredictable mechanical stressors on street circuits like Las Vegas. Aggressive curbs, track bumps, and heavy bottoming can combine to create localised wear far beyond what simulations predict. Teams tune their ride heights to avoid this outcome, but unexpected impacts can defeat even the most conservative settings.

Still, the consequences for Norris and Piastri are significant. For Norris, the loss of second place means forfeiting crucial championship points at a time when every race has growing implications. His strong podium finish had extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, but the disqualification wipes that advantage away entirely, shifting momentum in the title fight. For Piastri, the removal of his fourth-place finish denies him valuable points toward the season-long battle in the midfield and critically affects McLaren’s position in the Constructors’ standings.

The emotional toll was evident. Norris had delivered one of his most measured drives of the season, navigating tyre degradation, strategy swings, and pressure from rival teams under the neon glare of Las Vegas. Piastri, too, had shown consistency and pace across the weekend, adapting to a challenging circuit layout and capitalising on rivals’ missteps. Hours later, both saw their efforts undone by a technical irregularity neither driver had control over.

Though disqualification for plank wear is not unprecedented, it is rare for multiple cars from the same team to be penalised simultaneously — particularly after achieving two top-four finishes. The situation underscores the razor-thin margins within Formula One, where a few tenths of a millimetre of material can separate legitimate performance from a lost race.

Rival teams offered no public criticism of the ruling, though several expressed sympathy toward the drivers. Within the paddock, there was recognition that accidental damage can occur without intention or advantage, but the FIA’s regulations leave no room for subjective interpretation. The standard is binary: either the plank meets the measurement criteria, or the result is void.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix will now be remembered as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of technical compliance in modern F1. For McLaren, the incident represents both a setback and a learning moment. For Norris and Piastri, it marks a difficult emotional blow following two otherwise exemplary performances on track.

As the team shifts focus toward the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend, McLaren will aim to regroup quickly and prevent similar issues from recurring. With the championship battle tightening and competitive pressure intensifying, the team cannot afford further costly missteps. But the message from the garage was clear: the drivers have their full support, and the team takes responsibility for the error.

Whether the Las Vegas penalty becomes a turning point or merely a footnote in McLaren’s season will be decided on track in the races ahead.