Max Verstappen Closes Dramatically on Fifth F1 Title After McLaren Disqualifications in Las Vegas

Verstappen Gains Major Championship Boost After Norris and Piastri Lose Points in Las Vegas DQ Shake-Up

The Formula 1 title battle tightened sharply on Saturday night after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, stripping both McLaren drivers of their hard-earned points and bringing Max Verstappen within striking distance of a fifth consecutive world championship. The ruling, issued more than three hours after the race concluded, overturned what had appeared to be a straightforward standings outlook — and instead created one of the sharpest late-season swings in recent years.

The disqualifications came after FIA inspectors found that the skid block wear on both McLaren cars did not meet minimum thickness requirements, a violation similar to the one that cost Lewis Hamilton points earlier this season. With two races left, the unexpected penalty has shifted momentum back toward Verstappen, who has been steadily climbing back into contention after a difficult summer stretch.

The Stewards’ Decision and McLaren’s Response

The FIA’s post-race review found excessive wear on the wooden plank undersides of the McLaren cars — a component designed to enforce minimum ride height by degrading when a car bottoms out. According to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, the issue was caused by heavier-than-expected contact with the track surface during the race, a behavior that had not occurred during practice or qualifying sessions.

Stella emphasized that the infraction was unintentional and that race conditions unexpectedly caused both cars to bottom out more aggressively. “The FIA noted the breach was unintentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations,” he said, adding that McLaren accepted the ruling. He apologized to both Norris and Piastri, acknowledging the setback during a critical period in their championship campaigns.

The loss of points was severe: Norris, who finished second on the road, and Piastri, who was classified fourth before the ruling, were both stripped of their results. The standings shifted accordingly — Norris’ lead over Verstappen shrank dramatically, and Piastri moved into a tie with Norris for second place based on race victories.

Verstappen’s Winning Momentum Builds Again

Verstappen Extends Strong Run of Results

Verstappen’s victory in Las Vegas — his second in the city and his eighth consecutive podium — marked another step in his late-season resurgence. While he had appeared far from championship contention earlier in the summer, results in recent weeks have shown a return to form. The Dutch driver has now won in Qatar and has historically dominated Abu Dhabi, where the season finale will take place on December 7.

Yet before the disqualifications were announced, Verstappen played down discussions of a potential title charge. “It’s still a big gap,” he said after the race. “We always try to maximize everything we’ve got. This weekend that was first. The upcoming weekends we’ll again try to win the race. And at the end of Abu Dhabi, we’ll see where we end up.”

Despite mixed feelings about the Las Vegas spectacle — which he has criticized for its celebrity-heavy presentation — Verstappen continues to perform strongly on American circuits. His Las Vegas win marked his eighth career victory in the United States, an F1 record.

How the Race Unfolded at the Front

Norris’ Turn 1 Error Sets the Early Tone

Verstappen began the race from second on the grid but seized the lead almost immediately when Norris attempted an assertive move into Turn 1. The McLaren driver braked too late and ran wide, allowing the Red Bull champion to slip ahead and George Russell to move into second place.

“I just braked too late,” Norris admitted afterward. “It was my mistake in Turn 1, and that cost me.” The error left him recovering from third place, but his pace remained strong — until the disqualification nullified his performance entirely.

Piastri’s race began similarly on the back foot. The Australian lost two positions on the opening lap, falling from fifth to seventh, and was unable to regain enough ground to challenge the leaders. His recent run of form — one podium in seven races — has jeopardized what had been a promising championship push earlier in the season.

Midfield Movers and Standout Drives

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton delivered one of the drives of the night, climbing from 19th at the start to finish eighth after the disqualifications were applied. His strong recovery came after Ferrari endured its first last-place qualifying result since 2009. Charles Leclerc also salvaged points for Ferrari, finishing fourth in the adjusted classification.

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli briefly crossed the line in fourth but dropped to fifth due to a penalty, promoting Piastri before his disqualification. With the reshuffle, Antonelli moved up to third — one of the best results in his young career.

The Championship Picture Tightens

With two races remaining, the landscape has shifted dramatically. What had appeared to be a comfortable gap for Norris over Verstappen is now a narrow margin, and Piastri has re-entered contention. Verstappen’s recent form — combined with his strong historical performances in Qatar and Abu Dhabi — suggests that the title fight may extend to the final weekend.

Piastri acknowledged that the situation is difficult but not impossible. “There’s still a lot of laps left to go. A lot can still happen,” he said. “I need to make sure I’m in the best position to capitalize if that happens.”

For Verstappen, the disqualifications offer a renewed opportunity. For McLaren, they deliver a painful setback. For Formula 1, they create the storyline championship finales are built on.