Max Verstappen has thrust himself back into championship contention after a dramatic post-race disqualification overturned the results of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver’s commanding victory was followed hours later by the exclusion of both McLaren cars, fundamentally altering the title battle with just two rounds remaining.
The race initially appeared to deliver a significant advantage to championship leader Lando Norris, who finished second, and his teammate Oscar Piastri in fourth. However, technical inspections revealed both McLaren cars had skid blocks worn beyond regulatory limits, resulting in their disqualification from the event.
This development slashes Verstappen’s championship deficit from 49 to just 24 points behind Norris, while Piastri now shares the same margin. With 58 points still available across the final rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the title fight has been completely reopened.
Verstappen delivered a flawless performance on the Las Vegas street circuit, seizing the lead at the first corner when Norris ran wide after an aggressive start. The Dutchman then controlled the race unchallenged, while Norris secured what appeared to be a crucial second place finish.
The mood shifted hours after the podium celebrations when Formula 1’s governing body launched an investigation into the McLaren cars. The team’s representatives were summoned late into the night, with the final decision announced in the early morning hours. The strict application of technical regulations regarding skid block wear left McLaren with no grounds for appeal.
This represents a remarkable turnaround for Verstappen, who had effectively written off his title defense mid-season. His late-season surge has seen him claim four victories and three additional podium finishes in the last seven races, including a remarkable recovery from a pit lane start in Brazil.
For Norris, the disqualification represents a devastating blow after what had been a strong weekend. The British driver had taken pole position in challenging wet conditions and executed a measured race strategy, only to see his points advantage dramatically reduced by the technical infringement.
The amended results promote George Russell to second place for Mercedes, with his teammate taking the final podium position. All attention now turns to the Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen will seek to capitalize on his unexpected championship lifeline while Norris must regroup from this costly setback.
