Why FIA stewards disqualified McLaren from F1 Las Vegas GP

Here’s how FIA stewards explained McLaren’s disqualification from the Las Vegas GP

The FIA’s decision documents relating to McLaren’s disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix give insight into how the 2025 Formula 1 constructors’ champions fought their case – to no avail.

Championship leader Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, his team-mate and title rival, have been excluded from the race results due to excessive wear on their respective rear skid blocks.

McLaren brought up alleged mitigating circumstances in “additional and unexpected porpoising” in the hope of a reduced penalty, but such a violation usually is black and white, so normally results in a slam-dunk disqualification.

It should be pointed out that all points-scoring cars were checked, and only both McLarens breached the rule.

The stewards’ decision in full

"The Stewards heard from the Team Principal, Team Sporting Director and Technical Director of McLaren Formula 1 Team, the FIA Single Seater Director, the FIA Single Seater Technical Director and the FIA Technical Delegate.

"The rear skids of Car 4 were measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations. The relevant measurements were RHS Front 8.88mm, RHS Rear 8.93mm. The measuring device was a Mitutoyo Micrometre purchased in May 2025, and according to the manufacturer’s specifications, accurate to within 0.001mm.

"The rear skids were re-measured in the presence of the Stewards and the three McLaren representatives, and those measurements confirmed that the skids did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than those measured originally by the Technical Delegate.

"Accordingly the Stewards determine that a breach of the Technical Regulations have occurred.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images

"The Stewards then heard submissions on penalty.

"The Team argued that mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions. Further the Team submitted that the degree of the breach was lower than prior breaches of this regulation in 2025.

"The FIA argued that unfortunately there was no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than the usual penalty (i.e. disqualification). The FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.

"The Stewards also note the various decisions of the FIA International Court of Appeal which limit the ability to avoid disqualification for technical breaches.

"Notwithstanding the submission by the Team that there was potentially accidental damage that may have led to movement of the floor which could have caused additional wear, the Stewards do not consider this sufficient to mitigate the penalty.

"The Stewards determine that Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations has been breached and therefore the standard penalty of a disqualification needs to be applied for such an infringement."