When Max Verstappen crossed the finish line at the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2025, he didn’t just win a race—he rewrote the script of one of Formula 1’s most dramatic weekends. Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, took the checkered flag in 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 8.429 seconds after 50 laps of the 6.201-kilometer strip, his sixth victory of the season. But the real story wasn’t his speed. It was the chaos that unfolded behind him. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the two McLaren drivers who’d dominated qualifying and led the championship standings, were disqualified for a ‘skid wear infringement’—a technical violation so rare it had never before resulted in a full-team purge. For the first time in F1 history, both drivers from the same team were stripped of points in a single Grand Prix.
How McLaren Lost It All
The disqualification came after stewards reviewed data from the cars’ underbody sensors, which showed excessive wear on the skid blocks—components designed to limit ground clearance and ensure cars don’t run too low for aerodynamic advantage. The FIA’s technical regulations stipulate that skid blocks must retain at least 6mm of material after a race. McLaren’s cars, according to leaked inspection reports, had worn down to 4.1mm on the left side. Oddly enough, the same issue had surfaced during Free Practice 2, when a loose drain cover near Turn 17 forced two red flags. Some speculated the vibration from the damaged surface had accelerated wear. But stewards ruled it was a failure of team monitoring, not track conditions.
It wasn’t just the violation—it was the timing. Norris had started from pole with a blistering 1:47.934, and Piastri qualified fifth. They were the only two drivers to finish every race in 2025 without a DNF. Until now. Their disqualification handed second place to George Russell of Mercedes, who admitted to a persistent steering issue but still managed a podium. Third went to Kimi Antonelli, who started 17th, carried a five-second penalty for a false start, and somehow clawed his way up the order. His finish was the best of his career—and the most unexpected.
The Championship Fallout
Before the race, Norris led the Drivers’ Championship with 390 points—24 ahead of Piastri and 49 ahead of Verstappen. McLaren had already clinched the Constructors’ title in Singapore, but this result changed everything. The disqualification wiped out 44 points from McLaren’s tally, dropping them to 442, while Mercedes surged to 461 after Russell’s podium and Antonelli’s third-place finish. Red Bull, with Verstappen’s win, climbed to 405. Suddenly, the battle for second in the constructors’ standings was wide open.
"Not proud of Turn 1," Norris reportedly told reporters after the disqualification. "But thankful it didn’t cost me." His comment was cryptic—many wondered if he was referring to an early-race incident or the team’s own mismanagement. Piastri didn’t speak to the media. Team principal Andrea Stella issued a terse statement: "We accept the stewards’ decision. We will review our monitoring procedures and respond with transparency."
What the Numbers Say
- Verstappen’s winning time: 1:21:08.429 (6.201 km x 50 laps = 309.958 km total)
- Fastest lap: 1:33.365 by Verstappen on lap 43
- McLaren’s skid wear: 4.1mm (FIA minimum: 6mm)
- Points lost by McLaren: 44 (25 for Norris, 19 for Piastri)
- Mercedes’ points gained: +33 (18 for Russell, 15 for Antonelli)
- First time since 2009 that both drivers from a team were disqualified from the same race
It’s worth noting: the last time a team had both drivers disqualified was in 2021, when Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc were penalized for a fuel flow violation in Monaco—but they were demoted, not fully excluded. This was different. No points. No podiums. No record. Just a blank.
Why This Matters Beyond Las Vegas
This isn’t just about a race. It’s about the increasing scrutiny on team compliance as F1 tightens its technical rules. The 2025 season has seen more technical disqualifications than any year since 2010. Teams are pushing aerodynamic boundaries harder than ever, and the skid wear rule—long seen as a formality—is now a critical checkpoint. Red Bull, who’ve avoided penalties all season, quietly celebrated. "They took the risk," one engineer told BBC Sport. "We didn’t. We’re just happy they did."
For Verstappen, the win was his second at the Strip, but the emotional weight was heavier than usual. "Very happy with today," he said, holding back a smile. "But I know what happened behind me. That’s not how you win championships. You win them by being clean."
What’s Next?
With the season over, the focus shifts to the offseason. McLaren will overhaul its post-race inspection protocols, likely adding real-time skid wear telemetry. The FIA has signaled it may introduce random in-race skid block checks in 2026. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ surge in points could influence their driver lineup decisions—Antonelli, just 18, may now be locked in for 2026. And Red Bull? They’re already testing new underbody designs that reduce skid block reliance entirely.
Behind the Strip: A Circuit That Keeps Evolving
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit, first used in 2023, is a marvel of urban engineering—turning the world’s most famous boulevard into a racing arena. But its challenges are real. The asphalt is older than most realize, laid down in the 1980s and patched repeatedly. The drain cover issue in FP2 wasn’t an accident—it was a symptom. The track flexes under heat, and the weight of F1 cars (over 790 kg) can shift even secured components. Organizers have promised a full resurfacing by 2027. For now, it’s a high-stakes gamble. And in 2025, it nearly cost McLaren everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a skid wear infringement in Formula 1?
A skid wear infringement occurs when the carbon-fiber blocks under a car’s chassis, designed to maintain legal ride height, wear down below the FIA’s 6mm minimum. Teams monitor these blocks because excessive wear can indicate the car is running too low, gaining illegal downforce. In 2025, McLaren’s cars were found at 4.1mm—well below the limit—triggering disqualification after stewards reviewed telemetry and physical inspections.
Has this ever happened before in F1 history?
Never with both drivers from the same team. The closest was in 2021 when Ferrari had both drivers penalized in Monaco, but they were demoted, not disqualified. The only other 2025 instance of a full-team DNF was at the Chinese Grand Prix, where Red Bull’s drivers were penalized for a different aerodynamic violation. But Las Vegas was the first time both drivers lost all points and were erased from the results entirely.
How did this affect the Constructors’ Championship standings?
McLaren’s disqualification cost them 44 points, dropping them from 486 to 442. Mercedes gained 33 points (18 for Russell, 15 for Antonelli), pushing them to 461—just 19 points behind McLaren. Red Bull climbed to 405, closing the gap to third. With the season over, the final standings reflect this dramatic shift: McLaren still won the title, but by the slimmest margin in history—just 19 points over Mercedes.
Why did Kimi Antonelli finish third despite starting 17th and getting a penalty?
Antonelli’s performance was a masterclass in racecraft. He avoided early chaos, conserved tires, and capitalized on tire degradation among front-runners. His five-second penalty for a false start was applied post-race, meaning he crossed the line in second but was dropped to third after the clock was adjusted. His pace was strong enough to hold off Leclerc and Sainz, making this his best-ever F1 result—and a sign Mercedes may have found their future star.
What’s the likelihood of skid wear checks becoming random during races in 2026?
Very high. The FIA has already signaled it will pilot random skid block inspections during future races, possibly using drone-mounted infrared scanners to measure wear in real time. Teams are already redesigning their underbodies to reduce reliance on skid blocks. McLaren’s failure has accelerated regulatory change, turning what was once a post-race formality into a live compliance issue.
How did Max Verstappen’s win impact his legacy?
Verstappen’s sixth win of 2025 solidified his status as the most dominant driver of the decade, but this victory carried extra weight. He didn’t win because McLaren failed—he won because he stayed consistent. With no technical drama, no penalties, and no errors, he outperformed everyone under pressure. His 2025 season—11 wins, 18 podiums, 1 pole—now stands as one of the cleanest, most efficient campaigns in F1 history.