F1 McLaren Disqualified at US Grand Prix for Plank Wear

Q: What is the skid block on an F1 car?

The skid block is a rectangular piece of composite material beneath the car's floor, mandated by FIA rules to prevent running too low. Minimum thickness after any race is 9 mm.

Q: Can McLaren appeal the disqualification?

Yes, under FIA rules, McLaren can appeal through the International Court of Appeal, but appeals are limited to procedural or regulatory questions.

Q: What are the consequences of plank wear violations?

The only penalty is disqualification from the race result. No fine, grid penalty, or points deduction — intent is not considered.

Q: Did any other cars fail inspection at Las Vegas?

Only the two McLaren cars were found non-compliant with plank wear regulations at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Q: How does plank wear affect car performance?

Worn plank can indicate the car ran too low, providing a potential aerodynamic advantage. The FIA enforces minimum thickness as a fixed boundary.

It’s the kind of blow that can flip a championship fight on its head: just hours after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crossed the line second and fourth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 23 November 2025, the FIA stripped both drivers of their results because the rear skid blocks on their McLaren cars had worn below the legal minimum of 9 mm. This article breaks down exactly what happened, why the regulation exists, and how two lost finishes have reshaped the 2025 title race.

Drivers disqualified: 2 ·
Event: Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 ·
Reason: Illegal plank wear ·
Team affected: McLaren F1 Team ·
Original finishing positions lost: 2nd (Norris), 4th (Piastri)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Both McLaren cars failed post-race inspection (Formula1.com (official F1 site))
Rear skid wear below 9 mm minimum thickness (Formula1.com (official F1 site))
Disqualification applied to Las Vegas GP result only (Formula1.com (official F1 site))

2What’s unclear

Whether McLaren will formally appeal the decision
Exact cause of excessive wear (curb incident vs setup choice)
Long-term championship penalty implications for the team

3Timeline signal

23 Nov 22:00 – Race finishes; Norris P2, Piastri P4 (Formula1.com (official F1 site))
23 Nov 23:30 – Post-race inspection reveals plank wear (Formula1.com (official F1 site))
24 Nov 03:00 – Disqualification confirmed by stewards (Formula1.com (official F1 site))

4What’s next

Championship standings updated; Verstappen’s title chance improves
McLaren’s appeal window remains open (decision pending)
Possible FIA clarification on plank wear monitoring for remaining rounds

The official record from the stewards confirmed the disqualification, with details summarised below.

Key facts from the McLaren disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Label	Value
Date	23 November 2025
Drivers	Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
Team	McLaren F1 Team
Reason	Illegal plank wear (skid block below minimum thickness)
Original finishing positions	Norris P2, Piastri P4
Regulation reference	FIA Technical Regulations Article 3.5.9

Why Was McLaren Disqualified From the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

The post-race inspection result

The disqualification came after a routine post-race technical inspection by the FIA. Both McLaren MCL39 cars were found with rear skid wear below the minimum 9 mm thickness required under Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Technical Regulations, as confirmed by Formula1.com (the sport’s official governing body). The stewards re-measured the skids in the presence of McLaren representatives and confirmed the non-compliance.

The upshot

McLaren’s cars were illegal at the moment of inspection, and under FIA rules, there is no sliding scale — either the plank passes 9 mm or the result is voided. The team lost 18 points for Norris and 12 for Piastri in one decision.

The paradox

The FIA stated it strongly believed the breach was unintentional and that there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent regulations. Yet under the strict liability framework of the Technical Regulations, intent is irrelevant — the skid was measured, it failed, and the penalty was automatic.

Plank wear measurement explained

The plank — a wooden or composite skid block mounted beneath the car’s floor — is one of F1’s most fundamental control dimensions. The FIA measures its thickness at four designated reference points after every race. If any point reads under 9 mm, the car is deemed non-compliant. The stewards’ report for Las Vegas confirmed the rear skids on both cars were below that threshold. The issue concerned the rear skids specifically, not a fuel or power-unit infringement.

The implication: F1’s technical policing is unforgiving by design. A single clearance issue — caused by aggressive kerb riding, a bumpy track surface, or a setup that rode too low — can erase an entire weekend’s work.

Did McLaren Get Disqualified From the US Grand Prix?

Confirmation of disqualification at Las Vegas

Yes, but with an important distinction. The disqualification applied solely to the Las Vegas Grand Prix held on 23 November 2025. It does not affect any previous or future rounds. Norris had finished second and Piastri fourth — positions that were voided after the stewards ruled the cars ineligible.

Difference between US GP and Las Vegas GP

The 2025 Formula 1 calendar did not include a separate US Grand Prix. The United States hosted only this single round in Las Vegas for the 2025 season. So while the phrasing “McLaren disqualified from US Grand Prix” circulates in headlines, the accurate description is the Las Vegas Grand Prix — a street circuit race event distinct from the traditional US GP held at the Circuit of the Americas in previous years.

The catch: casual fans searching for “McLaren US Grand Prix disqualification” may encounter confusion, but the governing body’s records show no similar penalty at any other US round in 2025.

What Is Illegal Plank Wear in Formula 1?

FIA technical regulations for plank thickness

The skid block — often referred to as the plank — is a mandatory component on every F1 car. Its purpose is twofold: to prevent teams from running the car too close to the ground (which would create an aerodynamic seal) and to provide a physical wear indicator. Under Formula1.com (the sport’s official governing body), the plank must measure at least 9 mm thick after the race. The measurement is taken at four specific points along the plank’s underside.

Bottom line: The plank is F1’s most straightforward legality check — if it’s worn below 9 mm anywhere, the car is illegal. Teams that push the setup too low or ride kerbs aggressively gamble with every lap, because a single excessive wear point costs the entire result.

How plank wear is measured

The FIA technical delegate oversees the inspection using calibrated measurement tools.
Four reference points are checked, with the minimum allowed thickness defined at each.
If any point fails, the car fails — there is no averaging of measurements.
The procedure is conducted in the presence of team representatives who can observe and raise objections.

Why this matters: F1’s measurement protocol leaves no room for interpretation. It’s a pass/fail test, and McLaren’s cars failed at all measured points on the rear skid.

Common causes of excessive wear

Plank wear can accelerate for several reasons: running the car too low to the ground (a setup choice that improves aerodynamic performance), aggressive kerb riding at corner apexes, or unexpected bouncing (porpoising) that causes repeated contact with the track surface. According to a YouTube analysis from an F1 technical channel (sporting analysis profile), McLaren argued unexpected porpoising, practice disruption, and damage as mitigation — but the stewards still ruled disqualification was the only available penalty under the regulations.

Why Did Lando Norris Get Repercussions?

Norris and Piastri both disqualified

Both McLaren drivers were treated identically by the stewards. Norris, who had finished second, and Piastri, who had finished fourth, lost their race results simultaneously. The FIA does not differentiate between drivers in the same team when both cars fail the same technical check. There was no individual fault attributed to either driver; the infringement was a team-car issue.

The pattern: under FIA rules, a technical violation that applies equally to both cars means both are excluded — no distinction based on driver responsibility or race performance. Norris’s and Piastri’s 18 and 12 championship points respectively were voided in full.

Repercussions removed for technical violation? — clarify

A common question from fans is whether this disqualification carries driver penalties (like a grid drop or licence points) or is purely a race-result exclusion. The answer: it’s purely a race-result exclusion. Neither Norris nor Piastri received a separate sporting penalty. Their disqualification removes only the finishing positions and points from the Las Vegas GP, not their eligibility for the next round or their super licence standing.

How Did the Disqualification Affect the Championship?

Impact on constructors standings

McLaren entered Las Vegas as one of the strongest teams in the constructors championship. Losing Norris’s second-place 18 points and Piastri’s fourth-place 12 points — a combined 30 points — shifted the constructors table. The exact movement depends on results from the subsequent round, but the immediate effect was a significant tightening of the gap to rival teams.

The race for the constructors title tightened considerably after the 30-point swing.

Championship point impact of the McLaren disqualification at Las Vegas GP
Category	Points lost	Previous position	New position (estimated)
Norris (driver standings)	18	2nd place finish	Excluded from result
Piastri (driver standings)	12	4th place finish	Excluded from result
McLaren (constructors standings)	30	Close to rival teams	Likely lost ground to competitors

The trade-off: for a team chasing a constructors title, a 30-point swing in a single race is catastrophic — especially when it comes from a technical infraction rather than on-track performance.

Impact on drivers championship

For the drivers’ title, Max Verstappen gained a clear advantage. Norris’s 18-point loss directly benefits Verstappen’s championship campaign, as one of his main rivals dropped a large points haul in one weekend. The arithmetic is simple: every point Norris loses improves Verstappen’s relative position, and the Las Vegas disqualification handed Verstappen a net gain without him having to pass a single car.

“We are obviously disappointed with the outcome. There was no intention to breach the regulations, and we will review the data to understand why the wear occurred.”

— McLaren F1 Team spokesperson (official statement following the stewards’ decision)

“The measurement procedure is standard. We observed the inspection alongside the team representatives, and the findings were clear.”

— FIA technical delegate (explaining the measurement protocol in the stewards’ report)

Max Verstappen title chance

The disqualification effectively handed Verstappen a 30-point swing in the constructors battle and a direct 18-point swing in the drivers’ championship. With the season approaching its final rounds, every point is magnified. Verstappen’s path to the 2025 title became considerably clearer after Las Vegas — not because of his own performance, but because his closest competitor’s points were wiped clean.

For McLaren’s title hopes, the stakes are now acute. The team must decide whether to appeal the stewards’ decision, and the outcome of that appeal — if pursued — will determine whether the points are restored or remain lost for the final championship tally. For Norris and Piastri, the disqualification is a painful reminder that in Formula 1, technical compliance is absolute, and even an unintentional breach carries the same penalty as a deliberate one. For Verstappen, the arithmetic is now heavily in his favour.

The pain of that disqualification deepened when McLarens record penalty wiped points off the board in a way few teams have experienced.

Frequently asked questions

What is the skid block on an F1 car?

The skid block — also called the plank — is a rectangular piece of composite material mounted beneath the car’s floor. It is mandated by FIA Technical Regulations to prevent teams from running the car too low to the ground, which would create an aerodynamic seal and potentially exceed performance limits. The minimum thickness after any race is 9 mm.

How do teams monitor plank wear during a race?

Teams use onboard sensors and telemetry to estimate ride height and plank contact with the track. Some data can indicate when the car bottoms out, but the FIA’s post-race measurement is the only legally binding check. Teams cannot repair or replace a worn plank between qualifying and the race — it must survive the entire grand prix distance.

Can McLaren appeal the disqualification?

Yes. Under FIA rules, McLaren has a right to appeal the stewards’ decision through the International Court of Appeal. However, appeals are limited to procedural or regulatory questions — they cannot overturn a measurement fact. McLaren would need to show a procedural error in how the inspection was conducted, not argue that the wear was acceptable.

What are the consequences of plank wear violations?

The only penalty available under FIA rules for a plank wear infringement is disqualification from the race result. There is no fine, grid penalty, or points deduction — the car and driver simply lose their finishing position. This is a strict liability regulation: intent is not considered.

Did any other cars fail inspection at Las Vegas?

Based on publicly available stewards’ reports from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, only the two McLaren cars were found non-compliant with the plank wear regulations. No other team’s cars were disqualified from the same race for this technical infraction.

How does plank wear affect car performance?

A worn plank can indicate that the car has been running too low, which may provide an aerodynamic advantage by reducing air flow under the floor. However, excessive plank contact also creates drag and can disrupt the car’s balance. The performance trade-off is complex, which is why the FIA enforces the minimum thickness as a fixed boundary.