F1 | Official: Double McLaren disqualification, everything changes for the championship
Incredible news from Las Vegas: the double disqualification for McLaren has been officially confirmed, completely reshaping the world championship fight and giving Max Verstappen a major opportunity. After a long wait for the FIA’s verdict, the ruling arrived: both McLaren cars have been excluded from the results in Nevada. The papaya team committed the same error Ferrari made in China, and this mistake opens the door wide for Verstappen, who now dramatically reduces the gap in the standings.
The first doubts emerged from Lando Norris’s car after an unusual radio message from the pit wall in the closing stages of the race. At that moment, the British driver began to slow down noticeably, dropping to almost 20 seconds behind the Dutchman. In the final laps, Norris received the green light to push again, but the strange situation left the FIA with lingering concerns.
After the podium ceremony — one that helped Norris extend his margin over Oscar Piastri but lose a bit to Max Verstappen — the FIA carried out detailed inspections directly inside the McLaren garage. This immediately raised suspicion and set the stage for a major twist.
McLaren error: the championship reopens
The garage was covered to block media access, while team principal Andrea Stella delayed his scheduled media commitments. Shortly afterwards came the official confirmation: both cars, #4 and #81, were disqualified for irregular plank wear. The same fate suffered by both Ferraris earlier in the season in China now hit McLaren — but with far heavier consequences given the championship context.
With this double DSQ, McLaren has placed Verstappen right back into the heart of the title battle. The updated standings show Lando Norris still leading with 390 points, but the Dutchman is now only 24 points behind. The four-time F1 world champion also pulls level with Oscar Piastri at 366 points, while tightening the pressure on his British rival with only two races remaining in the season.
McLaren now feels the heat again, and Max Verstappen has less and less to lose as the championship approaches its dramatic finale.
Ferrari gains two positions after McLaren’s double exclusion
The disqualification also brings an immediate benefit for Scuderia Ferrari. With both McLarens removed from the final classification, Charles Leclerc moves up from P6 to P4, while Lewis Hamilton climbs from P10 to P8. A difficult Las Vegas weekend therefore ends with two unexpected but valuable points gains for the Scuderia, adding further significance to this dramatic twist in the championship.
