The Race F1 Podcast Las Vegas GP: McLaren double DSQ blows title race wide open
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Nov 23, 2025 Scott Mitchell-Malm, an insightful F1 writer and analyst, joins to dissect the chaos following the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The big news? McLaren's shocking double disqualification that puts their title hopes in jeopardy. Scott dives into the nitty-gritty of plank wear and ride-height rules that caused the disqualification. They also analyze how Max Verstappen could capitalize on this twist in the championship race. Plus, a look at Mercedes' resurgence and the midfield battles that kept the excitement going throughout the event.
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Ride-Height Margins Decide Races
- Teams push ride height to extreme margins to gain downforce but tiny wear breaches (0.04–0.26mm) trigger disqualification.
- McLaren misread plank wear due to disrupted dry running and variable conditions, costing big championship points.
Millimetres Make Or Break Results
- The legal plank thickness is 9mm and infringements were microscopic yet decisive, as small as 0.04mm.
- Measurement and inferred wear from sensor data can differ between cars, explaining why both McLarens failed.
External Conditions Shift Risk Quickly
- Factors like DRS use, wind direction and limited dry running can change downforce and accelerate plank wear unpredictably.
- Teams must factor transient conditions into tiny safety margins or risk post-race exclusion.