Last weekend Formula One racing took to the streets of Las Vegas for a race. After post-race inspection, both of the drivers for McLarens were disqualified form the race. Officials have determined that the cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri did not “comply with technical regulations”. The skid wear were below the minimum nine millimeter requirement.
Once the infraction was discovered, the skids were remeasured “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.” Measurements on both cars ran from 8.74 to 8.93.
McLarens argued “mitigating circumstances” due to weather issues over the weekend that resulted in no testing and shortened practice sessions.
Prior to the disqualifications, Norris finished the race in second with Piastri coming in fourth.
Not only were the two McLarens drivers moved to the back of the field in the race results; race winner Max Verstappen is now tied for second with Oscar Piastri with 366 points; Lando Norris leads in the points standings with 390 with two races remaining in the season.
Governing body FIA determined that the infraction was no done on purpose or ”a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations”.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg have also been disqualified earlier this season due to the same issue.