New Delhi: A significant development in the Formula 1 2025 championship occurred on Sunday, November 23, as both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Norris had crossed the finish line in second place, while Piastri secured fourth. However, both drivers were stripped of their points following a failure in post-race inspections.
Investigations revealed that the rear skid wear on both McLaren MCL39 cars fell below the mandatory minimum thickness of 9mm. Consequently, both vehicles were disqualified.
This decision kept Max Verstappen’s title ambitions alive. Before the Las Vegas race, he was 49 points behind Norris; despite winning this race, he finished 42 points behind the Brit and 12 points behind Piastri. The disqualification of the McLaren drivers resulted in Norris losing his 18 points, leading him to have only a 24-point advantage over Verstappen, while Piastri is now tied with the Dutch driver at 366 points.
F1 Updated Standings Following McLaren Disqualification:
- Lando Norris: 390 points (7 wins)
- Oscar Piastri: 366 points (7 wins)
- Max Verstappen: 366 points (6 wins)
Verstappen’s Path to the F1 Title: With only two races remaining in the 2025 season, a maximum of 58 points is available. For Verstappen to claim the championship, he would need to win both races and the Qatar sprint, totaling 58 points to reach 424 points. This outcome would place him 34 points ahead of Norris’s current 390 points. However, for Verstappen to secure the championship, Norris must not earn 35 points or more in the upcoming two races. Should Norris obtain 34 points, Verstappen would still win the title if he has more race victories. Furthermore, with Piastri tied with Verstappen, the Australian would win the title under the same conditions that benefit Verstappen.
Norris’s Chances for the F1 Title: Despite the turmoil, Norris remains in a strong position to win his first championship. He needs 35 points to secure the title, which could happen as early as the next round. If he finishes two points ahead of Verstappen and Piastri in either the Sprint race or the main race, he will become the champion.
