Max Verstappen crossed the finish line first at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit — but the real story didn’t unfold until the checkered flag had long faded. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the Dutch driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT claimed his sixth win of the season, finishing 23.5 seconds ahead of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s George Russell. But just hours after the race, McLaren F1 Team’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified for excessive skid block wear — a technical violation that flipped the podium and reshaped the championship. The twist? Verstappen now sits level with Piastri in the standings, both trailing the leader by 24 points with two races left.
From Pole to Pariah: McLaren’s Collapse
Lando Norris, the 25-year-old British driver, had stormed to pole position — the first for McLaren this season — and looked poised to finally break through for his first win in 2025. But off the line, Verstappen dove inside at Turn One, stealing the lead before Norris could respond. By Lap 10, McLaren’s radio transmissions revealed a chilling directive: "Lift and coast all the way to the flag." The team knew the car was fast, but the skid block — the wooden plank beneath the car designed to limit ground effect — was wearing down faster than regulations allow. It wasn’t just a precaution. It was a surrender. Norris crossed the line second. Piastri, his teammate, was fourth. Both were celebrating. Then came the stewards’ announcement: both cars failed post-race plank wear inspections. The skid block on Norris’s car showed 1.5mm of wear — 0.2mm over the 1.0mm FIA limit. Piastri’s was even worse: 1.7mm. The penalty? Automatic disqualification. No appeal. No mercy. It was the first time since 2019 that two drivers from the same team were booted from the results for the same technical infringement.Podium Reborn: Antonelli’s Miracle and Sainz’s Breakthrough
Suddenly, the podium was empty. Enter Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s 19-year-old Italian sensation, Kimi Antonelli. He’d qualified a dismal 17th — last among the top 10 starters — and was given a 5-second penalty for an unsafe release during his pit stop. Yet he drove the entire race on a single set of hard tires, holding off a charging Charles Leclerc and finishing third. "I didn’t even know I was on the podium until my engineer screamed into my headset," Antonelli said post-race. "I just kept my head down and trusted the car." Meanwhile, Williams Racing’s Carlos Sainz, who finished fifth on track, moved up to fourth. His result, combined with teammate Alex Albon’s retirement, all but locks Williams into their best constructors’ finish since 2017. "This isn’t luck," said Williams technical director James Vowles. "It’s the product of three years of rebuilding. We’re not just surviving anymore. We’re scoring points consistently."
Championship Chaos: Verstappen and Piastri, Tied
The disqualification didn’t just change the podium — it rewrote the title fight. Before Las Vegas, Piastri trailed the championship leader by 27 points. Verstappen was 25 back. After the penalty, both now sit at 24 points behind the leader — tied. The irony? Piastri’s disqualification helped his own teammate, Verstappen, close the gap. "It’s a cruel twist," said former champion Damon Hill on Sky Sports. "You race for 58 laps, then lose everything because a piece of wood wore down too fast. It’s like winning a marathon… then being told your shoes were illegal." The standings now look like a three-way dogfight. Verstappen and Piastri are tied. The leader, reigning champion Lewis Hamilton of Scuderia Ferrari HP, sits atop with 327 points. But Hamilton finished eighth in Las Vegas — his worst result since Bahrain — and now trails by 24 points. With only two races left — Qatar on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 7 — every point matters. Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, sits third in the standings, just 12 points behind Hamilton.What’s Next? The Final Two Races
The Qatar Grand PrixLusail International Circuit is a high-downforce, low-grip track — perfect for Verstappen’s Red Bull. But it’s also where Piastri scored his only win this season. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit favors consistency over aggression. Hamilton thrives here. Verstappen has won here four times. But with the championship tied, the pressure shifts. Will Red Bull push harder? Will McLaren admit fault? And will Hamilton, at 39, finally close the deal?
Behind the Scenes: Rookie Class Under Fire
The Las Vegas weekend also exposed the growing pains of F1’s 2025 rookie class. Gabriel Bortoleto, the Brazilian driver for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, retired after a spin into the wall — his third DNF in four races. Yet Motorsport.com noted: "His mistakes are nowhere near enough to wipe out his impressive rookie season." Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar and Ollie Bearman both scored points — a sign that the new generation isn’t just arriving. They’re competing.Verstappen’s win was dominant. But the story of this race won’t be written in lap times. It’ll be written in the silence of the McLaren garage, the shock on Piastri’s face, and the ripple effect of a single millimeter of worn wood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Norris and Piastri disqualified for skid block wear?
FIA regulations limit skid block wear to 1.0mm to prevent teams from gaining aerodynamic advantage by running the car too low. Norris and Piastri’s blocks showed 1.5mm and 1.7mm of wear, respectively — exceeding the limit. This isn’t just about safety; it’s about enforcing technical parity. Teams often push the edge, but Las Vegas was the first time this season the stewards applied the maximum penalty for this violation.
How does this affect the 2025 championship battle?
Verstappen and Piastri are now tied at 303 points, 24 behind leader Lewis Hamilton. With only Qatar and Abu Dhabi left, every point is critical. Verstappen has more wins (6 vs. 1), but Hamilton has more podiums (11 vs. 6). The tiebreaker favors Hamilton, so Verstappen must win both remaining races — and hope Hamilton scores zero. It’s mathematically possible, but incredibly unlikely without a major error from the Mercedes camp.
What does this mean for McLaren’s 2025 season?
McLaren had been the only team capable of challenging Red Bull for race wins. This disqualification strips them of two podiums and potentially 36 championship points. Their constructors’ standing drops from second to fourth, behind Ferrari and Williams. The team has issued a statement pledging a full technical review, but the damage to morale and sponsorship perception could linger into 2026.
Is this the first time skid block wear has caused a disqualification in F1?
No. The rule has been enforced since 1994, but disqualifications are rare. The most famous case was Michael Schumacher’s 2006 Monaco Grand Prix disqualification. Since then, only five drivers have been disqualified for skid block wear — all in the 2000s. Las Vegas 2025 marks the first time two drivers from the same team were penalized for it in the same race — a sign that McLaren’s aerodynamic setup may have been dangerously aggressive.
How did Kimi Antonelli manage to podium from 17th on the grid?
Antonelli ran a long first stint on hard tires — 37 laps — before switching to mediums. He conserved tires, avoided traffic, and capitalized on early retirements. His pace was consistently top-five, even with the 5-second penalty. He also benefited from a late safety car that bunched the field. His performance was one of the most impressive rookie drives in F1 history — especially given he’d never previously finished higher than 11th.
Why is Williams’ fifth-place finish so significant?
Williams last finished higher than fifth in the constructors’ championship in 2017, when they placed fourth. This year, their consistent points haul — including two podiums and seven top-five finishes — puts them on track for third. It’s a massive turnaround from 2023, when they finished 10th. The upgrade to their 2025 car’s floor and suspension has finally unlocked their potential — and it’s a sign the team’s long rebuild is paying off.
