Max Verstappen secured a decisive victory at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, but the race results are now under scrutiny following revelations of potential technical infringements by McLaren. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is investigating both lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s cars, alleging they ran with rear skid blocks below the minimum thickness requirements, a finding that could dramatically alter the championship standings with just two races remaining.The outcome of the FIA’s examination, expected before the next Grand Prix in Qatar, casts a shadow over Verstappen’s win and the performances of the McLaren team.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix proved a brutal race for Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto. The race in the entertainment capital was a constant struggle for the Alpine driver, who was collided with on the start, suffered from poor pace throughout the 50 laps, endured a nearly four-second delay during a pit stop, and ultimately finished last among the 17 drivers to cross the finish line.
Colapinto started 15th but was hit by a Williams driven by his former teammate, Alexander Albon, who misjudged the entry into the first corner, damaging the diffuser on Colapinto’s car. The A525 lost crucial aerodynamic grip, a significant disadvantage on a track already known for its low adhesion. He battled through the remainder of the race with the compromised car, compounded by the lengthy pit stop – almost double the normal time – as he was overtaken by multiple competitors.
Only the retirements of Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Lance Stroll prevented Colapinto from finishing at the very back of the field. “It’s good to keep completing the laps, it’s good to finish the races despite the damage, but it’s frustrating not to have been competitive,” a disappointed Colapinto stated.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen delivered another dominant victory, taking the lead in the first corner and never relinquishing it. The Red Bull driver started second and was briefly challenged by pole-sitter Lando Norris, but the McLaren driver ran wide in the first turn, handing the lead to Verstappen. George Russell of Mercedes then passed Norris a few corners later, moving into second position. Verstappen then steadily extended his advantage, with Norris eventually regaining second place, but unable to close the gap to the race leader.
His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, lacked pace throughout the race, finishing fourth. He was initially set to finish fifth, but a five-second penalty for Kimi Antonelli, who had a false start with the other Mercedes, elevated Piastri to fourth. Piastri now trails Norris by 30 points in the championship standings with 58 points still available in the upcoming races at Losail (Qatar, November 28-30) and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates, December 5-7). Verstappen remains within striking distance, 42 points behind the leader.
However, the situation could change significantly before the next race weekend. A strong rumor following the awards ceremony in Las Vegas was confirmed: both Norris and Piastri were potentially running with a technical infringement and faced possible disqualification. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of Formula 1, confirmed that both McLaren cars were found to be below the minimum thickness requirement for the rear skid block.
This portion of the car, designed to keep airflow under the floor and prevent ‘porpoising’, must measure 9 millimeters. The FIA has summoned both drivers and a team representative for each car to explain the irregularity. If no justifiable reason is provided, both drivers could be disqualified. The loss of 18 points for Norris’ second-place finish and 12 for Piastri’s fourth would dramatically alter the championship landscape.
Currently, Norris leads with 408 points, followed by Piastri with 378 and Verstappen with 366. If disqualified, Norris would drop to 390 points, while Piastri and Verstappen would both be tied at 366. This leaves 58 points up for grabs in the final two Grand Prix events.
That potential shift comes as Verstappen appears to be gaining momentum, both in terms of driving performance and mental fortitude, compared to the McLaren drivers. The McLaren team, however, may have an advantage: the Losail circuit, which will host a sprint race and offer a maximum of 33 points per driver, is expected to be more favorable to their car.
