Max Verstappen crossed the line first at the 2025 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip on November 21, 2025 — but the celebration was anything but smooth. Moments after the checkered flag, officials announced the disqualification of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both from McLaren, for excessive skid block wear. The ruling turned a potential championship milestone into a nightmare for Norris, who’d led the standings by 24 points before the race. Now, with both McLaren drivers stripped of their results, Verstappen and Piastri are tied at 366 points, while Norris clings to 390 — still in control, but far from safe.
The Race That Changed Everything
It started with Norris on pole — his seventh of the season and first time locking down three consecutive poles. He was the man to beat. But on the opening lap, he overcommitted into Turn One trying to block Verstappen, went too deep, and lost momentum. George Russell, in his Mercedes, seized the moment, diving around the outside. Norris dropped to third before the first corner even closed. Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, didn’t waste a second. By Lap 17, he was 2.5 seconds ahead of Russell, who was already complaining about failing power steering. Norris clawed back to second on Lap 34, but the damage was done. He’d lost the rhythm he needed to challenge Verstappen’s flawless pace. The pit stop sequence sealed it. Verstappen was the last of the front-runners to stop on Lap 25. When he rejoined, he was 1.2 seconds ahead of Russell. Norris, meanwhile, began conserving fuel in the final 10 laps — a strategy that cost him dearly. Verstappen pulled away, finishing with a 20.741-second gap. That’s the largest winning margin in Las Vegas Grand Prix history. He also set the fastest lap on the final tour: 1:21.084. His third DHL Fastest Lap of the season.The Disqualification That Shook the Grid
The FIA’s post-race inspection focused on skid block wear — the carbon-fiber plate under the car designed to limit ground clearance. Teams are allowed a minimum thickness, and any wear beyond that is a violation. Norris and Piastri’s McLarens showed wear beyond the 8mm legal limit. The team had pushed the car’s ride height aggressively all weekend, hoping to maximize downforce on the bumpy Strip. The decision stunned the paddock. Norris had finished second — a result that would’ve narrowed Verstappen’s title chances. Piastri, who’d crossed the line third, was now out. Kimi Antonelli of Ferrari moved up to third after a five-second penalty for his jump start. Charles Leclerc, who charged from ninth to sixth, and Carlos Sainz in seventh, both celebrated unexpected podium finishes. Lewis Hamilton, starting from the back after a grid penalty, clawed to tenth — the final point. The fallout was immediate. McLaren’s technical director, Andy Cowell, called the decision "unprecedented" in a post-race presser. "We’ve never been disqualified for skid block wear on this circuit before. The margin is razor-thin — we’re reviewing every sensor reading." The FIA, however, stood firm: "The regulations are clear. We apply them equally."Championship Implications: Norris Still Leads — But Not for Long
The standings now look like this: Norris at 390, Verstappen and Piastri tied at 366. Norris needs to finish with a 26-point lead over his closest rival at the Qatar Grand Prix on November 30 to clinch his first title. That’s a tall order. Verstappen, with six wins this season and eight consecutive podiums, is now the clear threat. "He’s not just fast — he’s ruthless," said former champion Damon Hill on Sky Sports. "He didn’t need Norris to be disqualified. He just needed to win. And now? He’s got the momentum, the confidence, and the calendar on his side." Verstappen’s Las Vegas win was his 125th career podium in 231 starts. His eighth in the U.S. — four in Austin, two in Miami, two now in Las Vegas. It was also the 150th race for the Red Bull-Honda partnership. The collaboration has now delivered 43 wins since 2022.
Who’s Left in the Fight?
With McLaren out of the top three, the title battle narrows to just two. Verstappen has the car. Norris has the points. But Verstappen has the momentum — and the final two races are on tracks where Red Bull has dominated: the tight, high-downforce layout of Lusail, and the smooth, high-speed Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both finished in the points, but neither is mathematically in contention. Mercedes’ Russell finished second — his best result since Silverstone — but his 124 points are too far behind. The real drama is between Verstappen and Norris. One needs to win. The other needs to avoid disaster.What’s Next? The Final Two Acts
The Qatar Grand Prix on November 30 is now a de facto title decider. If Norris wins and Verstappen finishes fourth or lower, Norris seals it. If Verstappen wins and Norris finishes fifth or worse, the championship heads to Abu Dhabi with just 2 points separating them. The final race on December 7 in Abu Dhabi will be the most tense in years. No driver has won a title from behind after the penultimate race since 2008. But with Verstappen’s form, it’s no longer unthinkable.
Behind the Scenes: The Skid Block Controversy
Skid block wear isn’t new — but the FIA’s enforcement has tightened dramatically this year. Teams have been pushing the limits since the 2023 regulations introduced stricter underfloor rules. McLaren, in particular, has been aggressive with ride height settings to exploit aerodynamic gains on street circuits like Monaco, Singapore, and now Las Vegas. "We knew we were close," admitted a McLaren engineer anonymously. "But we thought the margin was acceptable. The FIA’s new inspection tech — the laser scans — are more precise than ever. We didn’t realize how much we’d worn it down." The incident has sparked calls for clearer guidelines. "We need a published wear tolerance chart," said retired F1 driver David Coulthard. "Not a mystery. Not a surprise disqualification. That’s not sport — that’s a lottery."Frequently Asked Questions
How did skid block wear lead to disqualification?
FIA regulations require a minimum skid block thickness of 8mm to prevent teams from running dangerously low ride heights for aerodynamic gain. Norris and Piastri’s McLarens were found to have worn below this limit after laser scans post-race. The FIA has enforced this rule strictly since 2024, but this is the first time both cars from one team were disqualified for it in a single race.
Can Lando Norris still win the 2025 championship?
Yes — but it’s now much harder. Norris leads with 390 points, but Verstappen and Piastri are tied at 366. Norris must finish the Qatar Grand Prix with at least a 26-point lead over his closest rival to clinch the title. If he finishes with 25 points or fewer, the championship goes to Abu Dhabi — where Verstappen has won four of the last five races.
Why was Verstappen’s winning margin so large?
Norris had to conserve fuel in the final laps to ensure he finished the race, which reduced his pace by 0.8 to 1.0 seconds per lap. Verstappen, running a more aggressive fuel strategy, was able to push flat-out on the final lap. Combined with his superior tire management and Red Bull’s superior straight-line speed on the Strip, the gap ballooned to 20.741 seconds — the largest in Las Vegas GP history.
What impact does this have on McLaren’s 2026 car development?
McLaren will likely redesign their underfloor and skid block mounting system for 2026 to avoid future violations. The team has already admitted to pushing the limits on street circuits. With FIA scrutiny increasing, they’ll need to balance performance with compliance — a challenge that could delay their development cycle if they’re forced into a major redesign.
Is this the first time skid block wear caused a disqualification in F1?
No — but it’s the first time two drivers from the same team were disqualified for it in the same race. In 2022, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was penalized for excessive wear at Monaco, and in 2023, Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez received a warning at Baku. But never before has the FIA removed two top-three finishers for this exact violation — making this a landmark moment in F1 enforcement.
What does this mean for Verstappen’s legacy?
With this win, Verstappen now has 58 career victories — just 12 behind Michael Schumacher’s record. His 125th podium in 231 starts shows remarkable consistency. If he wins the 2025 title, it’ll be his fifth overall, tying him with Alain Prost and making him the only driver to win four titles in five years. This race, controversial as it was, may be remembered as the moment he truly cemented his place among the all-time greats.
