McLaren’s devastating double disqualification in Las Vegas has ignited a storm of indignation from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have now issued blistering public statements. Their remarks, charged with unfiltered frustration, paint the ruling as a crippling and unjust blow that has violently disrupted their championship ambitions. The pair stressed that this outcome transcends a mere technical infraction, describing it instead as a moment that has shaken the integrity of the title fight.
The FIA detailed the reasoning behind the penalty, noting the same regulation breach that previously struck down Ferrari’s Hamilton and Leclerc. With Max Verstappen capitalizing fully in Sin City, Norris’s once-comfortable title buffer has been slashed to a precarious margin. Their demotion elevated young Kimi Antonelli to another podium and shifted George Russell forward, compounding the competitive chaos that followed the ruling.
Norris expressed outright exasperation, recounting the mechanical issues he had battled throughout the race and lamenting the immense points lost. He acknowledged McLaren’s relentless pursuit of performance but admitted they had misjudged the limit. Despite the emotional weight of the decision, he projected his focus toward Qatar, determined to recalibrate and salvage momentum in the remaining rounds.
Piastri mirrored Norris’s sentiments, calling the result profoundly disappointing in the midst of a title fight defined by razor-thin margins. He emphasized that McLaren’s pursuit of competitive gains had pushed them into unintended territory, though his tone remained resolute. The Australian urged the team to reset swiftly, insisting that the upcoming circuits—where McLaren traditionally excelled—could still rescue their campaign.
Team Principal Andrea Stella assumed responsibility for the debacle, offering a direct apology to both drivers. He stressed that the infringement was neither deliberate nor deceptive, attributing it to unavoidable mechanical circumstances acknowledged by the FIA. Stella underscored the team’s commitment to transparency and vowed that their focus now lies in navigating the final races with precision, discipline, and restored confidence.
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