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Norris retains title lead despite Vegas disqualification as F1 heads to Qatar
Lando Norris remains in contention for his first Formula 1 world championship despite being disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix alongside McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for a technical violation, officials confirmed Sunday. The infraction-skid blocks on both cars measuring below the mandatory minimum depth-stripped Norris of his second-place finish behind Max Verstappen, though he still holds a 24-point lead over both rivals ahead of the penultimate race in Qatar (November 28-30).
Under current standings, Norris could clinch the drivers' title in Qatar with a round to spare if he outscores Verstappen and Piastri by two points across the sprint weekend. A total of 58 points remain available in the final two races, with the season finale set for Abu Dhabi (December 5-7).
Technical breach echoes past controversies
The skid block, a wooden plank beneath the car, ensures compliance with ride-height regulations; excessive wear can signal a car is running too low for aerodynamic advantage. McLaren's violation mirrors past incidents, including Lewis Hamilton's disqualification at the 2023 U.S. Grand Prix (while at Mercedes) and the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix (with Ferrari), as well as George Russell's 2023 Belgian GP exclusion for underweight issues linked to skid wear.
Norris' disqualification elevated Mercedes' George Russell to second place in Vegas, with rookie Kimi Antonelli promoted to third-his second consecutive podium. Piastri, originally fourth, saw his result nullified, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Williams' Carlos Sainz gained positions in the revised classification.
Race recap: Verstappen dominates as Norris fights back
Verstappen, the four-time defending champion, capitalized on Norris' early error to seize the lead. The McLaren driver, starting from pole, ran wide at Turn 1 after an aggressive defensive maneuver against Verstappen, dropping to third behind Russell. Despite a mid-race charge-including a pass on Russell for second-Norris ultimately finished 11.6 seconds adrift, hampered by what McLaren later described as a "technical issue" affecting performance.
Team orders instructed Norris to "go and get Max," but Verstappen's pace proved insurmountable. The Red Bull driver's sixth win of 2025 extended his late-season resurgence, though he acknowledged the deficit: "It's still a big gap. We'll try to win in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, then see where we end up."
"We always try to maximize everything we've got. In upcoming weekends, we will try to win the race, and at the end of Abu Dhabi, we will see where we end up."
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Piastri's uphill battle
Piastri, who started fifth, lost ground early after contact with Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson. The Australian recovered to fourth before his disqualification, telling BBC Radio 5 Live pre-announcement: "I need things to go my way now to win, but all I can do is put myself in the best position to capitalize if something happens."
Standings shakeup and Qatar implications
The revised Vegas results reshuffled the top 10:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas)
With extra points available in Qatar's sprint format, the championship math grows more complex. Norris' path to the title hinges on mitigating risks while Verstappen and Piastri-both chasing their first 2025 wins-must exploit any McLaren vulnerabilities. The Abu Dhabi finale (December 7) will decide the outcome if the gap remains within 26 points.
Key dates ahead
- Qatar Grand Prix (Sprint): November 28-30
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: December 5-7
