McLaren Reacts to Double Disqualification in Las Vegas: Stella, Norris, and Piastri Speak Out

Short Excerpt: After both cars were disqualified from the Las Vegas GP for excessive plank wear, McLaren’s team boss, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri issued apologies, disappointment, and a commitment to learn and fight back.

McLaren’s 2025 Formula 1 championship challenge was shaken in Las Vegas after both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified for excessive plank wear—a regulation breach that wiped out their results and points. In the aftermath, team principal Andrea Stella, Norris, and Piastri all shared their reactions, expressing disappointment, apologizing to the team and fans, and outlining the first steps of McLaren’s internal investigation into the costly upset.

Team Principal Andrea Stella: Apology and Searching for Answers

Andrea Stella addressed the team, drivers, and fans in his first comments post-disqualification:

« We apologize to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their Championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend. As a team, we also apologize to our partners and fans, whose support means so much. While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season. »

Stella explained that the root cause was unexpected:

« During the race, both cars experienced unexpected, high levels of porpoising not seen in the practice sessions, which led to excessive contact with the ground. We are examining the causes of this car behavior, including potential accidental damage sustained by both vehicles, which we identified after the race, leading to increased floor movement. As the FIA acknowledged, the violation was not deliberate. »

He reiterated that, despite the team’s attempt to explain mitigating circumstances, the regulations left stewards no option but disqualification: « There is no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than disqualification for this infraction, even though the breach was minor compared to others seen in 2025. »

Lando Norris: Frustration and Focus

A disappointed Norris emphasized the lost points and the uncertainty this brings to his championship:

« A frustrating end to today. We had to do some managing towards the end of the race and now we know it was due to some issues on our car, which have unfortunately resulted in us being disqualified. 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. »

He admitted that team instructions late in the race (believed by some to be for fuel conservation) were in fact due to concerns over plank wear as the car bounced heavily late on.

Oscar Piastri: « Disappointing to Leave with No Points »

Piastri also voiced his regret at a lost opportunity:

« Disappointing to come away from this weekend with no points after an unfortunate disqualification due to skid wear. With how close the grid is, we’re always looking at where we can gain performance, and we didn’t get it right this time. We now need to reset, refocus and push to get the best points possible in the final two rounds, both tracks that we’ve been strong at previously. »

Immediate Steps: Internal Analysis

The team immediately began an internal review to understand the factors behind the sudden, severe porpoising and any hidden damage on both cars that led to excessive plank deterioration. Stella confirmed:

« We are investigating the reasons for this behavior, including the possible effect of accidental damage found after the race, which increased floor movement. »

Championship Impact and Looking Ahead

The double disqualification erased vital points for both Norris and Piastri, severely narrowing Norris’s title lead and opening the championship for Max Verstappen and others. The squad’s focus is now on learning lessons and aiming for a strong response in the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, where both drivers have previously shown strong pace.