Why did Lando and Oscar actually get disqualified?

By Darian Lee Crowley

The biggest drama of last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix occurred in post-race scrutineering by the FIA.

Both McLaren drivers were disqualified from the race for excessive skid block wear. This gives Max Verstappen a gasp of air in the championship fight.

What is a skid block?

The skid block, or the plank, is on the floor of an F1 car. Other than tyres, it’s usually the lowest part of an F1 car.

It acts as a safety feature, brought in response to the death of Ayrton Senna along with a raft of other safety regulations in 1994. It is there to stop cars running too low to the ground, due to the safety concerns around ground effect.

The plank is made of fiberglass or wood and is there to stop the cars from running too low to the ground. If the plank is too badly worn at the end of the race, a driver is disqualified.

Michael Schumacher became the first major victim of this rule when his win at the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix was voided by the skid block wear.

Why are teams still getting disqualified?

Teams generally became better at avoiding disqualification for skid block wear since 1994.

However, after ground effect was brought back in 2022, infringements have risen, particularly in 2025. A tight field spread has pushed teams to the limits of their car’s performance.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg have already been disqualified at races earlier this year for skid block wear, but Norris and Piastri’s is more controversial due to the championship circumstances.

Is the penalty too harsh?

Automatic disqualification for a minor technical breach may seem harsh.

However, the skid block wear inspection is for safety, and breaching technical rules brought in for safety will usually carry the maximum penalty.