Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have spoken out following their disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where both McLaren drivers were penalized for technical infractions after the race.
Norris, who initially finished second behind Max Verstappen, and Piastri, who crossed the line in fourth place, saw their results nullified due to their cars failing post-race inspections. The disqualification was attributed to excessive wear on the skid blocks, shaking up the championship standings with only two races remaining.
As a result, Norris now leads the championship by 24 points over Piastri and Verstappen. In a post-race statement, Norris expressed disappointment over the situation but shifted focus to the upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Piastri also expressed frustration over the disqualification, emphasizing the need to regroup and maximize points in the remaining rounds. McLaren issued an apology to both drivers, acknowledging the breach of technical regulations and attributing it to unforeseen issues during the race.
The FIA scrutineers identified that the skid thickness beneath the McLaren cars was below the mandated minimum of 9mm, leading to their exclusion from the final race classification. Despite the setback, McLaren remains committed to performing strongly in the upcoming races.