Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced an unfortunate turn of events in the recent Formula One race in Las Vegas. The McLaren duo initially finished behind Max Verstappen, with Piastri securing fourth place. However, a technical violation led to their disqualification as post-race inspections revealed that the planks under their cars were thinner than the required 9mm.

This violation resulted in their exclusion from the 22nd race of the 2025 season, putting Verstappen on equal points with Piastri. With Norris leading the championship, the reigning champion is now just 24 points behind him, setting the stage for an exciting season finale.

This marks the first disqualification in the F1 careers of Norris and Piastri, joining a small group of drivers who have faced similar penalties. Earlier this year, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also experienced disqualification, highlighting the strict enforcement of technical regulations in the sport.

Meanwhile, Sky has announced discounted prices for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering over 1,400 live matches across various leagues. Leclerc, after finishing fifth in China, faced disqualification for his car being under the minimum weight, along with Pierre Gasly. Nico Hulkenberg, after 15 years in F1, experienced his first disqualification due to excessive skid block wear.

In a surprising turn of events, George Russell was disqualified from last year’s Belgian Grand Prix for his car being underweight, leading to Hamilton being promoted to the race winner. Esteban Ocon, racing for Alpine, faced disqualification for exceeding the fuel mass flow limit during a race in Austin.

These incidents highlight the rigorous technical scrutiny in Formula One and the implications of even minor violations on drivers’ standings and race outcomes.