Lando Norris faced a major blow to his Formula 1 title ambitions after being disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, dramatically shrinking his championship lead and intensifying the fight for the crown.
Originally finishing second behind Max Verstappen, Norris had seemed poised to extend his lead to 42 points over the Dutch driver with just 58 points remaining this season. However, both Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified post-race for technical infringements. Their cars’ rear skids were found to be thinner than the mandated 9mm minimum, leading to the loss of Norris’s second place and Piastri’s fourth place.
This ruling slashed Norris’s advantage, reducing his lead over Verstappen to just 24 points heading into the penultimate race in Qatar, which will feature a sprint race. Piastri also dropped to third in the standings, 24 points behind Norris. The decision came more than four hours after the race ended, overturning the initial results and shaking up the championship standings.
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The FIA’s statement acknowledged the breach but emphasized it was unintentional, citing unexpected porpoising effects and limited practice time due to weather as mitigating factors. Despite this, the regulations left no option but disqualification.
This penalty echoes a similar disqualification earlier this season when Lewis Hamilton was excluded from the Chinese GP for the same reason.
Verstappen capitalized fully on the reversal, now positioned to challenge fiercely in the remaining races. Despite his previous criticism of the flashy Las Vegas event, the four-time world champion demonstrated his dominance by securing his 69th career win and eighth consecutive podium, increasing his momentum ahead of races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Norris admitted to a costly mistake at the race start that allowed Verstappen to seize the lead, stating, “I braked too late and let Max have a win.” His error, combined with the subsequent penalties, has greatly reduced his championship cushion.
For Piastri, the setback is a harsh reality check after a difficult string of results following his last win in the Dutch GP. He expressed determination to keep fighting despite the odds, focusing on maximizing opportunities in the closing races.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton made a notable comeback, recovering from last in qualifying to finish tenth, showcasing his resilience even as Ferrari faces internal pressures following previous race performances.
With just two races left, the F1 title battle is now a thrilling three-way contest between Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri, promising high drama as the season races toward its climax.