Red Bull Racing wasted no time taking a cheeky swipe at rivals McLaren following the team’s double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix — a punishment that dramatically reshaped the championship
fight.
Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were thrown out of the results after post-race checks revealed excessive wear on the wooden plank beneath their cars. The minimum thickness must remain above 9mm, but Piastri’s measured as low as 8.74mm and Norris’s 8.88mm, with stewards later confirming the values were “even lower” upon re-check.
Red Bull’s sim racing division pounced on the moment, posting a video across social media titled “how not to get a DQ,” showcasing the ride-height adjustment feature in the official F1 game: a not-so-subtle dig at McLaren’s legality woes.
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The fallout has major championship implications.
Before the disqualifications, Verstappen was set to leave Vegas 42 points behind leader Norris and 12 behind Piastri.
Afterward? He’s now level with Piastri and only 24 behind Norris, with 58 points still available in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
How Verstappen or Piastri Can Still Steal the Championship
The assignment is ruthless in its simplicity: win everything.
If Verstappen wins both the Sprint and the Grand Prix in Qatar, and then wins the season finale in Abu Dhabi, he’ll hit 420 points.
Under one realistic scenario, he becomes champion by a single point if Norris:
- Finishes P3 in both Qatar races
- Finishes P4 in Abu Dhabi
It’s razor-thin, but mathematically alive.
Piastri’s Path
Piastri’s situation mirrors Verstappen’s.
If he sweeps the final two rounds, the title is still within reach — even after his disqualification setback.
Norris’ Requirements
For Norris, the instructions are clear:
- Finish no lower than P2 in both remaining Grands Prix
- Stay out of chaos in the Sprint
He still controls his own destiny, but only just.
The margins are microscopic, the pressure suffocating, and Verstappen is circling.
