McLaren has been thrust into one of its gravest crises in recent memory after team radio exchanges between Oscar Piastri and his race engineer surfaced, revealing early suspicions about a technical breach long before stewards intervened. The Las Vegas Grand Prix descended into turmoil when both Piastri and Lando Norris were disqualified for excessive plank wear, a violation that stripped the team of critical championship points. Despite McLaren’s insistence that unforeseen porpoising and accidental damage triggered the problem mid-race, the FIA confirmed the infractions only after a meticulous post-race review.
The team’s explanations were complicated by irregular radio messages instructing both drivers to lift off the throttle in specific corners — guidance that appeared innocuous at first but later proved to be a coded effort to manage the deteriorating floors. While commentators initially speculated fuel conservation strategies were at play, the drastic performance drop-off, especially in Norris’ final laps, fueled suspicions. As pundits revisited the data, it became evident these instructions were less about fuel and more about discreetly preserving the damaged plank.
Fueling further intrigue, McLaren never explicitly referenced the plank issue during the race, implying that drivers were likely briefed beforehand during reconnaissance laps, away from microphones and cameras. This omission has led analysts to argue that the team deliberately avoided alerting rival outfits. F1 experts now describe the fuel narrative as a strategic diversion — a “red herring” deployed to shield the true nature of their concerns while maintaining competitive discretion.
Piastri and Norris attempted to manage the situation on track, executing lift-and-coast directives at turns 5, 11, 12, and 17, yet the damage proved irreversible. Their radio responses revealed confusion laced with frustration as the race unfolded, culminating in a fruitless effort that left both cars outside the standings. Piastri lamented leaving Las Vegas empty-handed, while Norris expressed exasperation at losing a substantial haul of points despite seemingly flawless execution.
The disqualifications have dramatically reshaped the championship landscape. Norris, who had nearly secured the title with a 30-point advantage, now finds himself only 24 points ahead — with Verstappen and Piastri suddenly level behind him. With a maximum of 58 points remaining across the final two rounds, the title fight has tightened into a razor-thin contest. As the paddock turns its attention to Qatar, McLaren must regroup swiftly to salvage its fading championship aspirations.
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