McLaren Disqualified from Las Vegas GP as Norris and Piastri Lose Podiums Over Skid Block Violation

The 9mm skid block rule was introduced in the 1990s to prevent teams from running cars too low to the ground, which creates dangerous aerodynamic ground effects and increases the risk of cars becoming airborne. The plank acts as a physical barrier — if it wears below 9mm, it means the car was likely scraping the track surface at unsafe levels, compromising safety and fairness. The FIA uses laser scans and calibrated gauges to measure wear at multiple points, ensuring no team gains an unfair aerodynamic advantage through illegal ride heights.

Porpoising is a high-frequency bouncing caused by the car’s aerodynamic floor losing downforce as it rises, then slamming back down. In Vegas, McLaren’s low ride height — chosen to maximize grip — amplified this effect. Each bounce caused the skid block to strike the asphalt harder than during practice, accelerating wear. The team didn’t see this in simulation because practice sessions were run on damp, slower track conditions, not the dry, high-speed race setup that triggered the violent oscillations.

Max Verstappen gains 18 points in the Drivers’ Championship, reducing Norris’s lead from 42 to just 24. Oscar Piastri, now tied with Verstappen, is no longer a teammate in the shadow of Norris — he’s a direct rival. Mercedes, promoted to second and third, earned 33 points instead of 15, giving them crucial momentum heading into Qatar. The Constructors’ Championship battle between McLaren and Red Bull is now a coin flip — and Mercedes could even sneak into second if they score consistently.

Yes. Every team running ultra-low ride heights — including Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari — is now under heightened scrutiny. The FIA has signaled it will increase skid block checks at every race, especially on street circuits like Singapore and Monaco. Teams are already adjusting their setups to add 0.5mm of clearance as a buffer. The 9mm rule is no longer just a technicality — it’s a tactical constraint that will define race strategy for the rest of the season.

McLaren is overhauling its pre-race simulation models to better predict porpoising under dry conditions. They’ve also redesigned the skid block mounting to include a real-time wear alert system. The team’s engineers are working 18-hour days in Woking to prepare for Qatar, where the track’s smoother surface could neutralize their Vegas mistake. But the bigger challenge is restoring confidence — in the car, in the strategy, and in the drivers who gave everything only to be punished for a flaw they didn’t see coming.

Technically, yes — but it’s unlikely. The FIA’s measurements were conducted using certified equipment, witnessed by independent inspectors, and matched against the team’s own submitted legality documents. McLaren admitted the breach was unintentional, which reduces penalties but doesn’t overturn the disqualification. The FIA has been consistent this season: unintentional violations still carry the same consequence — deletion from results. An appeal would risk appearing defensive, and McLaren knows their best path forward is to learn, adapt, and move on.