Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Norris had finished in second place behind Max Verstappen, while Piastri came in fourth. However, both drivers were disqualified after their cars failed post-race technical inspections due to excessive skid-block wear.
The FIA confirmed that the disqualification was a result of the technical violation, nullifying their race results and reshuffling the championship standings with just two races remaining.
With a 24-point lead over Piastri and Verstappen, Norris expressed his disappointment, attributing the issues to car problems and emphasizing the need to focus on the upcoming race in Qatar. Piastri echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging the setback and emphasizing the importance of regrouping for the final two races.
McLaren issued an apology to the drivers, explaining that the breach in technical regulations was unintentional and caused by unexpected car behavior during the race. The team expressed regret for the loss of points and assured their commitment to performing well in the remaining races.
The FIA inspectors found that the skid planks under the McLaren cars were below the required minimum thickness of 9mm at the end of the race, indicating a violation of ride height regulations and resulting in their disqualification from the event.