McLaren's 'planking' failure shakes up title fight

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for McLaren under the bright neon haze of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

What should have been a straightforward fight at the front became a nightmare shaped by misfortune, timing and one technical detail that changed the entire course of the weekend — and possibly the championship.

The collapse began not on track but in the FIA's post-race bay. Hours after the chequered flag fell, both McLarens were disqualified when inspections revealed excessive wear on their skid blocks.

The FIA found the rear plank sections on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s cars were below the minimum legal thickness of 9mm. McLaren explained that the issue stemmed from a combination of heavy porpoising, track bumps and setup compromises caused by limited practice time.

Importantly, the FIA agreed the breach was not intentional, but the rules allow no flexibility. The disqualification wiped out a crucial haul of points at the worst possible moment in the title fight.

Max Verstappen ultimately emerged as the beneficiary of the chaos. Having already won on track, the Dutchman collected the full 25 points with no challenge from the McLarens in the final classification.

What had been a controlled championship lead for Norris instantly narrowed, while Piastri lost an important chance to close in on his teammate, his challenge arguably left in tatters.

The standings now tell a brutally different story. Norris remains ahead on 390 points, but Verstappen and Piastri sit tied behind him on 366. The British driver’s once comfortable cushion has been reduced to just 24 points with two events left – Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Critically, Qatar next weekend is a Sprint event, meaning a total of 58 points remain available over the next two weekends. That includes eight points for the Sprint winner and 25 points for each GP victor.

For Norris, the equation is simple in theory. To secure the title, he needs 35 points from the remaining 58.

Achieving that total makes it mathematically impossible for either Verstappen or Piastri to catch him, even if one of them takes maximum points in either race. But the danger is clear. Another poor result or a non-finish could flip the championship completely for Norris.

The past weekend will be one McLaren want to quickly forget, but it will likely linger as a harsh reminder of how thin the margins are at the top of a championship. A few fractions of a millimetre on a plank turned a promising weekend into a costly setback, but the championship remains within reach.

Two races remain, 58 points are available, and the fight for the 2025 World Championship has never felt more alive.