Lando Norris finds himself in the eye of a storm after Las Vegas Grand Prix, as FIA — and the wider Formula 1 world — reportedly pile on further punishment following his disqualification. What began as hope for a major step toward the title now resembles a heartbreakingly steep fall.
From Podium Dreams to Double Blow
On the streets of Las Vegas, Norris had driven like a man on mission — finishing second behind eventual winner Max Verstappen, and further extending his lead in the drivers’ standings. It seemed like a huge step toward clinching a first world title.
But only hours after the lights-out, the nightmare began. Post-race inspection revealed that the underside skid block — the “plank” that protects the floor of the car — was excessively worn on both Norris’s and teammate Oscar Piastri’s cars, falling below the required 9 mm minimum thickness.
That technical infringement triggered a double disqualification, stripping the two McLaren drivers of the points they had earned. For Norris, that meant the second place — and all those valuable championship points — vanished in a heartbeat.
Team leadership quickly issued an apology: their machines experienced unexpected “porpoising” — violent up-and-down bouncing — exacerbated by wet practice sessions and limited track time. Both cars also reportedly sustained accidental damage, which may have contributed to the abnormal skid wear. Nevertheless, the stewards felt there was no alternative but disqualification.
A Costly Slip in a Title Chase
For Norris — so close to what could have been a historic triumph — the blow is especially cruel. His lead in the championship remains, but far less comfortable.
With just two races to go, every point matters; a single misstep could undo a season’s worth of effort. The psychological toll isn’t lost on him or the team. McLaren’s principal admitted it was an “extremely disappointing” double DQ.
In post-race comments, Norris didn’t hide his frustration:
> “It’s frustrating to lose so many points,” he said, emphasising the fact that the performance throughout the weekend had felt strong. But for all the speed, all the risks taken, none of it counts when the car fails to comply with regulations.
Fans on social media echoed the heartbreak. One post summed it up brutally:
“What a fucking disaster.”
And Now — More Than Just a DQ: Additional Punishment
The disqualification was only the beginning. Reports suggest that the FIA has taken further action, issuing a hefty fine after Norris’s post-race outburst — caught live on television — where he swore during interviews. The remarks went viral, compounding the damage to what had already become a painful weekend.
The fine — symbolic, yet bitter — turns the Las Vegas weekend into one of the most punishing episodes of Norris’s career: not only has he lost the reward of a top finish, but he’s now facing financial and reputational costs too.
What It All Means — For Title, Team, and Norris
This double-whammy feels particularly tragic because it’s not purely about race pace — the problem came from compliance, from regulations not “white-lined” mistakes, but proving just as destructive. For a driver chasing his first title, a moment that should have been a concrete stride forward is now a deep scar.
For the championship race, the door has cracked wide open for Verstappen (and others). The fight is no longer straightforward. For the team — long starved of a drivers’ title — the fallout may haunt them far beyond the next two races.
As for Norris — there’s still time to fight back. But after this weekend, victory or defeat will feel different. The heart may remain willing, but now the mind will carry all the weight of what was lost.