F1 title back in reach for Verstappen, as Norris, Piastri get disqualified in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — A fifth consecutive Formula 1 championship is within Max Verstappen's reach following the disqualifications of contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after Saturday night's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Verstappen won the event for the second time in three years to close the gap on Norris to just 42 points with two races remaining. But, three hours after the race concluded, the FIA summoned McLaren to see the stewards after failing an inspection.

The measured thickness on the skid wear on the McLarens failed to meet the minimum requirements. Skid wear is the wear on the protective plank on the underside of the cars, and Lewis Hamilton was disqualified for the same infraction earlier this year.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the infraction stemmed from the cars bottoming out during the race at levels they did not during practice — leading to excessive contact with the ground. Stella said the damage to both cars was "accidental" and that "the FIA noted the breach was unintentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations and mitigating circumstances also existed".

He also apologized to Norris and Piastri.

"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," Stella said. "While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season."

The DQs made for a wild swing in the standings as both Norris and Piastri were stripped of all points earned in Las Vegas. Norris went from 30 points up on Piastri and 42 points up on Verstappen to just 24 points up on Verstappen and Piastri, who holds the tie-breaker for second in the standings based on his win total.

Verstappen has won the last two races in Qatar, where F1 races next, and four of the last five at Abu Dhabi, where the season will end on Dec 7.

It's an incredible comeback for the Dutchman, who seemed out of contention over the summer. Even after winning Las Vegas for the second time in three years, Verstappen wasn't thinking about the title.

"I mean, it's still a big gap. But, you know, we always try to just maximize everything that we've got," he said three hours before the FIA issued the DQs. "This weekend, that was first. The upcoming weekends we'll again try to win the race. And at the end of Abu Dhabi, we'll see where we end up."

Verstappen was by far the biggest winner in Las Vegas, an event he hated before he'd ever turned in a lap. He won for the second time in four races, and the second time in three years of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as the four-time reigning F1 champion continued to claw his way back into the title picture.

His displeasure with the event has stemmed from the bright spotlight promoters place on celebrities and parties instead of the actual competition. But, when it comes time to get in the car, no matter how Verstappen feels about the event, he seems to excel.

"Some people like more show added. Some people like different kinds of tracks," he said. "I also have my opinions about what I like. Some weekends I like more than others. I still like to be in Vegas, but I'm personally less of a showman. But, I get it, you know, it's part of the calendar. If you're in Vegas, it needs to be like this."

Las Vegas was the 69th victory of Verstappen's career. It was his eighth consecutive podium, F1-record eighth win in the United States, and he beat points leader Norris by more than 20 seconds.

Verstappen started second, but took control of the race in the very first turn when Norris made an aggressive move to cut in front of him at the start, but wound up sliding wide of the turn.

"I let Max have a win," Norris lamented. "Let him go. Let him have a nice race. I just hit the brakes too late. It was my mess-up."

Agencies Via Xinhua