2025 F1: Verstappen wins Las Vegas GP; McLaren disqualified

The Las Vegas GP has reignited Max Verstappen’s 2025 F1 title hopes. Not only did the Red Bull driver win the race, but both McLaren drivers were disqualified after failing the post-race inspection. As a result, Verstappen gains plenty of ground in the standings and is now tied with Oscar Piastri on points, 24 points behind championship leader Lando Norris, with two more rounds to go.

1. Verstappen wins, ahead of Russell and Antonelli
2. Norris and Piastri disqualified due to excessive plank wear
3. Both Haas drivers in the top 10

Verstappen defeats Norris to win F1 Las Vegas GP

McLaren fail post-race checks

Verstappen seized control of the race at the start itself, taking the lead after Norris ran wide through Turn 1 and dropped behind George Russell. Norris eventually moved up to second place, but couldn’t do much to threaten Verstappen, who cruised to victory.

The result initially left Verstappen 42 points behind Norris in the championship. However, post-race checks revealed that the rearmost skid wear on both McLaren cars was well below the minimum 9mm thickness. Both Norris and Piastri were disqualified as a result. Earlier this year, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg were disqualified from the Chinese GP and Bahrain GP, respectively, for a similar technical infringement. 

As per a statement released by the FIA, McLaren argued that there was “additional and unexpected porpoising at the event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions.” The stewards dismissed this, but did highlight that they “strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.”

Both Mercedes drivers on podium

McLaren’s disqualification promotes Mercedes’ Russell to second place, ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli. It was a whirlwind of a race for Antonelli. After starting from P17 on the grid, he made some good progress and held off both Piastri and Charles Leclerc in the closing stages. But he was handed a 5-second penalty for a false start and dropped behind Piastri in the initial race classification.

Leclerc ended up fourth, followed by Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg. Hamilton finished P8 after starting from the back of the grid. The Haas duo of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman completed the top 10.

2025 F1 championship standings

Norris still holds on to the championship lead. He’s now 24 points ahead of both Verstappen and Piastri in the standings. With two more rounds to go, including the sprint at Qatar, there are still 58 points on offer.

Up next is the Qatar GP on November 28-30.

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