Verstappen wins Las Vegas GP as McLaren duo disqualified, reshaping F1 title race

Max Verstappen took the checkered flag at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit — but the real story wasn’t on the track. It was in the stewards’ room. Just hours after crossing the line, McLaren Formula 1 Team saw both of its drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, stripped of their results for excessive plank wear. The disqualification didn’t just erase their podium finishes. It rewrote the championship narrative — and handed Verstappen the momentum he needed with just two races left.

What Happened on the Strip?

On paper, Norris had dominated. He took pole, led early, and looked set to claim his third win of the season after victories in Mexico and Brazil. Piastri, his teammate, was close behind. But post-race inspection revealed both McLarens had worn their underbody skid blocks — the wooden plank beneath the car designed to limit aerodynamic advantage — beyond the 1mm FIA limit. That’s not a minor technicality. It’s a clear sign the cars were running too low, likely exploiting ground effect aerodynamics in ways the rules forbid. The FIA confirmed the violation in official documentation released November 22, 2025, and both drivers were disqualified under Article 3.5.3 of the Technical Regulations.

The ripple effect was immediate. Kimi Antonelli, who’d crossed the line fifth after serving a 5-second penalty, was elevated to third. Charles Leclerc moved into fourth. And Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams Racing, jumped from seventh to fifth — a result that now virtually locks in Williams’ best constructors’ finish since 2017.

Verstappen’s Masterclass — And the New Title Fight

Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, didn’t need luck. He won cleanly — 23.5 seconds ahead of George Russell in second, and nearly 31 seconds clear of Antonelli. His time of 1:21:08.429 was a textbook display of control on a street circuit that’s notoriously hard on tires and brakes. The win was his third straight in 2025, following victories in the United States and Brazil.

But here’s the twist: before the disqualifications, Piastri sat second in the drivers’ standings — 24 points behind Verstappen. Now, with Norris and Piastri both stripped of their 25 and 18 points respectively, Piastri’s total dropped. Verstappen’s win pushed him to 348 points. Piastri, after losing his Las Vegas haul, now sits at 324. The gap? Still 24 points. But now, it’s Verstappen chasing the title — not Piastri. The pressure flips. And with only the Qatar Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix left, there’s no time to recover.

Williams’ Quiet Triumph

While everyone focused on McLaren’s collapse, Williams Racing quietly made history. Sainz’s fifth-place finish, combined with teammate Alex Albon’s ninth, gave Williams 18 points in Las Vegas — their best haul of the season. With 144 points now in the bag, they’re 17 ahead of Scuderia Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. Ferrari, despite Antonelli’s podium and Leclerc’s fourth, still trails Mercedes by 52 points and Red Bull by 20. Williams hasn’t finished higher than fourth in the constructors’ championship since 2017. They’re on the cusp of doing it again — and they didn’t even need a win.

Hamilton’s Heartbreak

Then there’s Lewis Hamilton. Qualifying 20th after missing his final Q1 lap in the rain, he clawed his way to 10th — a feat that would’ve been celebrated in any other season. But after 18 years in F1, 103 wins, and seven world titles, this was just another footnote. In his post-race interview, Hamilton didn’t even try to mask his frustration. "I took zero consolation," he said. "I’ve had 22 bad weekends this year." When asked if the off-season could reset things, he paused. "I don’t know." The silence that followed said more than any quote ever could.

What’s Next? The Final Two Races

The Qatar Grand Prix on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 7 aren’t just races. They’re a referendum on Verstappen’s legacy and Piastri’s potential. Verstappen needs to win one of them to clinch his fifth title. Piastri needs to win both — and hope Verstappen stumbles. But with Red Bull’s car still the class of the field, and McLaren’s credibility in tatters, the odds are stacked. The FIA’s decision to disqualify both McLarens wasn’t just about plank wear. It was a reminder: in Formula 1, margins are razor-thin — and mistakes, even ones made in pursuit of speed, are punished.

Behind the Numbers

• Verstappen now leads the drivers’ standings with 348 points; Piastri sits at 324.
• McLaren lost 43 combined points from Las Vegas — a swing that could cost them second in the constructors’ standings.
• Williams now leads Ferrari by 17 points in the constructors’ championship, with two races left.
• Antonelli, who started 17th, finished third after running the entire race on one set of hard tires — a rare feat in modern F1.
• Hamilton’s 20th-place qualifying was his worst of the season — and his 10th-place finish his highest since the Singapore GP.