Norris admits he expected Las Vegas Grand Prix disqualification

Lando Norris said his disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix came as no surprise given the way he had to drive the car.

He lost second place in the race, and team mate Oscar Piastri was stripped of fourth, after the plank assemblies on both cars were found to be below the minimum limit of 9mm.

McLaren told both drivers during the race to reduce their pace at points on the track in the hope of avoiding damage to the planks. But Norris said he had to slow down so much he doubted the car would be able to pass its post-race inspection.

“From what I had to do in the race there was already some expectation that it might happen,” Norris told Sky. “So it wasn’t a shock, it wasn’t a surprise.

“We knew we were having a lot more issues than we ever expected during the race and that led to already the expectation that some things might not be as we expect.”

Norris admitted the outcome was frustrating but said he’d come to terms with it. “It sucks, but that’s life sometimes,” he said.

“There’s no point being too sad about it. Of course everyone in the team was a bit gutted about the result because there’s a lot of effort that goes into it.

“So it’s the same for everyone, but like 0.1 millimetres or whatever, it’s like a piece of paper. So it was frustrating, but actually I was quite okay.”

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McLaren’s penalty has prompted speculation the team will have to increase its ride height at the remaining races to ensure its cars remain legal, which could compromise their performance. But Norris doubts the changes will slow them down.

“In fact it will probably be quicker, the fact we have to put it up because, I won’t have to back off everywhere,” he said. “Everyone thinks it’ll make us slower, it’ll probably make us quicker.”

Although Norris said his disqualification “doesn’t change anything” for him, he admitted he would rather have the larger points lead he was set to take before the team’s cars were thrown out. “I certainly would have liked to have the 30-point gap instead of 24 to whoever it is [Piastri and Max Verstappen].”

Norris goes into this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix with a chance to secure the world championship. He said he would prefer to clinch it this weekend than see the title fight go down to the final round.

“I’ll just go and try and do the same thing. I’ll focus on trying to get good a quali and have a good race and just take one step at a time. I don’t mind, of course the earlier I can do it the better, but at the same time that doesn’t change how I do anything. I just need to try and win – simple as that.”

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2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix

• Why did McLaren’s messages to Norris and Piastri not mention plank problems?
• McLaren explain Las Vegas disqualifications – including their “counterproductive” reaction
• McLaren’s first double disqualification ended their second-longest points streak
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