McLaren was disqualified from the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix because both of their cars, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, failed post-race technical inspections due to excessive wear on the skid blocks (or "planks") underneath their cars, breaching the minimum thickness regulation set by the FIA.

Details of the Disqualification

• The FIA found that the rear skid blocks on both McLaren cars were worn below the minimum 9 mm requirement, which is a strict regulation designed to limit how low cars can run and, thus, manage safety and performance.

• McLaren attributed the excessive wear to "unexpected and severe porpoising"—a phenomenon where the car bounces up and down on the track—experienced during the race but not in the practice sessions, possibly exacerbated by differences in weather and track conditions between practice and the race.

• The team also pointed out they had limited opportunity to adjust due to shortened practice sessions because of weather.

FIA and Steward Ruling

• Despite McLaren's arguments and acknowledgment from the FIA that the breach was unintentional, FIA rules dictate automatic disqualification for this specific technical violation with no provision for a lesser penalty.

• This resulted in both Norris and Piastri losing their finishing positions (second and fourth, respectively), affecting both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

Context and Precedent

• The incident marked the first-ever double disqualification for McLaren in Formula 1 and had significant championship implications as it handed a points advantage to their rivals.

• The FIA reiterated that no evidence suggested McLaren attempted to circumvent the rules deliberately, but the regulation is clear and strictly enforced.

In conclusion, McLaren was disqualified due to excessive skid block wear, caused largely by unforeseen car behavior and race circumstances, but the rule’s strictness left no room for penalty reduction.