When Oscar Piastri crossed the line in fourth place at the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on Sunday, he thought he’d secured vital championship points. Instead, he got a phone call from the stewards: disqualified. His teammate, Lando Norris, who’d finished second, faced the same fate. Both cars from McLaren Racing Limited had skid blocks worn down to just 7.8mm — below the 9mm FIA minimum. No points. No podium. Just silence in the garage. And now, Piastri is calling for a full reset.
What Went Wrong in Las Vegas?
It wasn’t fuel strategy. It wasn’t a software glitch. It was wear. Plain and simple. The McLaren MCL39’s rearmost skid blocks — the carbon-fiber strips designed to protect the car’s underbody from scraping on the bumpy, high-load streets of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit — had worn down far faster than engineers predicted. Post-race inspection revealed both cars had breached the 9mm safety threshold. That’s not a minor oversight. It’s a fundamental failure in pre-race setup. Even more telling: Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, admitted the team had instructed Norris to ease off in the final laps due to skid wear concerns — a directive that contradicted earlier public statements blaming fuel management. "We clearly didn’t get that balance right today," Norris said. "It’s frustrating to lose so many points." The irony? The team had been on a roll. Norris had qualified P2. Piastri, P4. Both were running clean, aggressive races. Verstappen won, yes — but McLaren looked like they could’ve challenged. Then, the skid blocks gave out. Literally.Championship Fallout: A Three-Way Tie and a Narrowing Gap
The fallout is brutal. Before Las Vegas, Norris led Piastri by 24 points in the Drivers’ Championship. Now, after the DQ, it’s still 24 points — but Verstappen, who was 31 points behind before the race, has surged into a tie with Piastri at 317 points. Norris remains on top with 341. That means the title fight is now a three-way battle with only two races left. And here’s the kicker: Piastri has podiumed at both remaining circuits. Third in Qatar in 2023. Third again in 2024. Same for Abu Dhabi. He knows these tracks. He’s fast here. But without points from Las Vegas, he’s now tied with the man who just won the race — and he’s behind his own teammate. "We didn’t get it right this time," Piastri said. "We now need to reset, refocus and push to get the best points possible in the final two rounds."
McLaren’s Technical Crisis: A Pattern or One Mistake?
This isn’t the first time McLaren has struggled with skid wear. In 2023, their MCL37 showed signs of premature degradation on high-speed circuits like Monza. But this? Two cars, same flaw, same race — the first time since the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix that both cars from one team have been disqualified for identical technical breaches. That’s not bad luck. That’s a systemic issue. The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is punishing. With its 14 turns, steep elevation changes, and abrasive asphalt, it’s one of the most demanding street tracks on the calendar. Teams had been warned. Data from Friday practice showed higher-than-expected wear rates. Yet McLaren’s engineers didn’t adjust the ride height or suspension geometry. They didn’t change the skid block material. They didn’t even increase the inspection frequency. "We’re not just losing points," said one senior engineer, speaking off-record. "We’re losing credibility. The fans expect more. The sponsors expect more. The drivers deserve more."What’s Next? Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and the Final Push
With 58 points still on the table — 28 from the Qatar Grand PrixLusail International Circuit and 30 from the Abu Dhabi Grand PrixYas Marina Circuit — the door isn’t closed. But it’s creaking. Norris needs just 14 more points than Verstappen to seal the title. Piastri needs 24. And Verstappen? He needs to win both races and hope Norris finishes no better than fourth in one of them. McLaren’s next move matters. Will they overhaul their pre-race wear analysis? Will they bring new skid block compounds? Will they change their simulation models? Or will they keep flying blind? Stella says they’re "fully focused." But focus isn’t enough. They need a reset.
Why This Matters Beyond the Championship
This isn’t just about who wins the 2024 Drivers’ Championship. It’s about trust. McLaren, a team with six Constructors’ titles and a legacy of innovation, is now playing defense. Their partnership with sponsors like SAP and Rolex hangs in the balance. Their ability to attract top-tier drivers beyond 2025 depends on proving they can get the basics right. And for Piastri? He’s at a crossroads. He’s young. Talented. But if McLaren can’t fix this, will he stay? Or will he look elsewhere — to Red Bull, to Ferrari — where the infrastructure is stable? The clock is ticking. Two races. One chance to prove they’re still champions in the making.Frequently Asked Questions
Why were both McLaren cars disqualified for the same issue?
Both the MCL39 cars suffered identical skid block wear because the team used the same setup parameters for both drivers, and failed to account for the extreme abrasiveness of the Las Vegas circuit. Data from Friday practice showed accelerated wear, but no adjustments were made to ride height, suspension, or skid block material, leading to both cars falling below the 9mm FIA minimum during post-race inspection.
How does this affect Oscar Piastri’s championship chances?
Piastri’s DQ eliminated his chance to gain ground on teammate Lando Norris, who still leads by 24 points. More critically, it allowed Max Verstappen to tie him at 317 points. Piastri now needs to outscore Verstappen in both remaining races and finish ahead of Norris in at least one to have any shot at the title — a near-impossible scenario unless Norris has mechanical issues.
Has this happened to McLaren before?
No — not like this. While McLaren has had individual skid wear issues in past seasons, this is the first time since the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix that both cars from a single team have been disqualified for the same technical infringement. It highlights a systemic failure in their pre-race preparation and data analysis processes.
What’s the significance of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi tracks for Piastri?
Piastri has finished third in both the 2023 and 2024 Qatar Grand Prix and also placed third in Abu Dhabi in 2024. He’s proven fast on these circuits, making his Las Vegas DQ even more costly. With podium finishes within reach, the pressure is on McLaren to deliver a car that won’t break down — literally — before he can capitalize.
Could this lead to changes in McLaren’s leadership or engineering team?
Yes. While Andrea Stella remains in charge, internal sources indicate that senior aerodynamics and chassis engineers are under review. With sponsors and drivers watching closely, McLaren’s board is expected to conduct a full technical audit before the end of the year. A leadership reshuffle isn’t guaranteed, but a restructuring of the race preparation unit is highly likely.
What’s the FIA’s stance on skid block regulations?
The FIA enforces the 9mm skid block rule strictly to ensure cars maintain a minimum ground clearance for safety and to prevent teams from running dangerously low to gain aerodynamic advantage. Teams are required to submit skid block wear data before races, and post-race inspections are mandatory. Failure to comply results in disqualification — no exceptions, regardless of performance.