McLaren have issued a formal apology to drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after both were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for a technical infringement. The team's skid blocks were found to be worn below the permitted 9mm limit, leading to the loss of valuable championship points.
Team principal Andrea Stella expressed regret for the incident, stating: 'We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their championship campaigns.' He also extended apologies to partners and fans, acknowledging the disappointment of the outcome.
The disqualification came after an FIA investigation that lasted over an hour. McLaren argued mitigating circumstances, including unexpected porpoising and limited practice time due to weather. However, the FIA noted that while the breach was unintentional, the regulations allowed for no penalty other than disqualification.
As a result, championship leader Max Verstappen now leads Norris by 24 points, with two races remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Norris must outscore Verstappen by at least two points in Qatar to keep his title hopes alive.
Norris described the situation as frustrating, saying: 'It’s frustrating to lose so many points. As a team, we’re always pushing to find as much performance as we can and we clearly didn’t get that balance right today.' Piastri echoed the sentiment, vowing to reset and focus on the final rounds.
