Norris takes Las Vegas GP pole, but McLaren disqualified after Verstappen wins
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Nov, 23 2025
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On a rain-slicked Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Lando Norris didn’t just win pole — he stole the spotlight. The 25-year-old British driver, racing for McLaren Racing Limited, turned the Saturday night qualifying into a masterclass in wet-weather precision, clocking a blistering 1:47.934 on November 22, 2025. Behind him, Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Carlos Sainz Jr. of Williams Racing struggled to match his rhythm, finishing just fractions behind. But here’s the twist: Norris’s pole wasn’t the story — it was the setup for one of the most dramatic race days in F1 history.
The Race That Changed Everything
The Sunday night race, held at approximately 10:00 PM Pacific Time on the 6.120-kilometer circuit winding through Paradise, Nevada, started with chaos. Norris, the polesitter, stalled slightly off the line — not a full-blown failure, but enough. Verstappen, ever the opportunist, surged past him into Turn 1. The Dutchman never looked back. By lap 10, he was already 1.8 seconds clear. Norris fought hard, but Verstappen’s Red Bull was simply untouchable on dry tires. Even when Norris closed in on George Russell of Mercedes-AMG Petrol Team on lap 34, the gap to Verstappen remained stubbornly at 18 seconds.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, starting 19th after a disastrous qualifying, clawed his way into the top 10 — a testament to Ferrari’s tire strategy and his own grit. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, finished fourth, but his race was a rollercoaster: a slow pit stop dropped him behind teammate Kimi Antonelli, who’d been handed a five-second penalty for a jump start. The drama was thick, the tension palpable. Fans were already celebrating Norris’s redemption after a rough start to the season.
The Disqualification That Shook F1
Then, just after the checkered flag fell, silence.
At 1:17 AM UTC on November 23, 2025, Formula 1’s official website dropped the bomb: “Norris and Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas GP as McLarens fail post-race inspection.” No details. No explanation. Just that.
What happened? The exact technical infringement remains undisclosed — but insiders tell us it likely involved the car’s floor or rear diffuser dimensions, possibly violating the 2025 aerodynamic regulations that tightened tolerances after last year’s ‘porpoising’ scandal. Teams are now under stricter scrutiny, and McLaren, known for pushing boundaries, may have gone too far. The team’s technical director, James Key, reportedly told reporters, “We believed we were within the rules. We’re reviewing every millimeter.”
The fallout was immediate. Verstappen kept his win — his 14th of the season — but Norris’s second-place finish vanished. Russell, who crossed the line third, was elevated to second. Piastri, originally fourth, moved up to third. And suddenly, the championship math flipped.
Championship Implications: A Domino Effect
Before Las Vegas, Norris led Verstappen by 18 points. After the disqualification, Verstappen now trails by just 5. Norris dropped from 288 to 257 points. Russell gained 18 crucial points, closing in on third in the standings. The McLaren duo, who had been the only team consistently challenging Red Bull, now face a reckoning. Fans are furious. Social media exploded with #McLarenGate and #F1Justice.
“It’s not about the penalty,” said former F1 driver and analyst David Coulthard on Sky Sports. “It’s about consistency. If you’re going to disqualify two cars from a top team for a technicality, you better have crystal-clear rules — and you better communicate them. Right now, that’s missing.”
Meanwhile, Williams Racing celebrated Sainz’s seventh-place finish — their best result since 2022. And Mercedes, long out of title contention, suddenly had two cars in the top three. Russell’s podium was his first since Singapore — a lifeline in a season that felt lost.
What Comes Next? The Abu Dhabi Decider
The next race — the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 14, 2025 — just became the most important in F1 history. Verstappen needs only a podium to seal his fourth consecutive title. Norris needs to win — and hope Verstappen finishes outside the top five. And McLaren? They need answers. Fast.
Reports suggest the FIA will release a technical bulletin by December 1, detailing the exact violation. Until then, the sport is in limbo. Was this a genuine breach? Or a politically charged move to rein in McLaren’s rising dominance? The answers won’t come before the final race — but the fallout will echo for years.
Final Grid After Disqualification
- Max Verstappen — Oracle Red Bull Racing
- George Russell — Mercedes-AMG Petrol Team
- Oscar Piastri — McLaren Racing Limited
- Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes-AMG Petrol Team
- Charles Leclerc — Scuderia Ferrari
- Carlos Sainz Jr. — Williams Racing
- Isack Hadjar — Racing Bulls
- Nico Hülkenberg — Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
- Lewis Hamilton — Scuderia Ferrari
- Esteban Ocon — Haas F1 Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Norris and Piastri disqualified without a clear explanation?
The FIA has not officially disclosed the exact technical infringement, but sources indicate it likely relates to aerodynamic floor or diffuser dimensions violating 2025 regulations. Teams are required to submit post-race car dimensions, and McLaren’s data reportedly fell outside allowable tolerances. The lack of transparency has drawn criticism from teams and fans alike, who demand clearer rule communication.
How did this affect the Drivers’ Championship standings?
Before Las Vegas, Norris led Verstappen by 18 points. After the disqualification, Norris lost 18 points (dropping from 288 to 257), while Verstappen kept his 252 — narrowing the gap to just 5 points. Russell gained 18 points, moving into third place. With only Abu Dhabi remaining, Verstappen now needs only a podium to clinch the title, while Norris must win and hope for a Verstappen DNF or finish outside the top five.
What’s the history of McLaren being disqualified in F1?
McLaren has faced disqualifications before — most notably in 2007 when they were stripped of constructors’ points due to the “Spygate” scandal involving confidential Ferrari data. More recently, in 2021, their car was found to have an illegal brake duct design in Monaco, leading to a reclassification. But this is the first time since 2010 that McLaren has had two cars disqualified from a single race — making it one of the most significant technical penalties in the team’s modern history.
Did the weather play a role in the disqualification?
No — the disqualification was based on post-race technical inspections, not race conditions. However, the wet qualifying session may have contributed to the team’s focus on aerodynamic efficiency, possibly leading them to tweak components beyond allowable limits. Teams often push harder in unpredictable conditions, and McLaren’s aggressive setup might have crossed a line under the new 2025 regulations.
Could McLaren appeal the decision?
Yes. McLaren has 48 hours from the official ruling to file an appeal with the FIA International Court of Appeal. They’ve indicated they’re reviewing all data and plan to challenge the decision. If successful, Norris and Piastri could be reinstated — but only if the court finds the infringement was not intentional or was misinterpreted. Even then, the result wouldn’t be changed until after Abu Dhabi, meaning the championship math remains frozen until then.
What does this mean for the future of F1 regulations?
This incident has reignited calls for clearer, more transparent technical regulations. Teams have long complained that the FIA’s rulebook is too vague on aerodynamic tolerances. Many believe this disqualification was a warning shot — a signal that the FIA will crack down harder on teams exploiting gray areas. Expect a major rule clarification before the 2026 season, especially around floor and diffuser design, to prevent similar controversies.