Oscar Piastri topped the only practice session in Qatar, while Red Bull failed to extract performance from the soft tyres. Max Verstappen placed sixth and Yuki Tsunoda fell to thirteenth after traffic and poor sector one execution.
McLaren’s Las Vegas Disqualification Traced to a Safety-First Setup That Triggered Severe Porpoising
McLaren expected a conservative ride height to protect the floor in Las Vegas. Instead, the decision pushed the car into an unstable aerodynamic range and caused the excessive plank wear that led to a double disqualification.
Helmut Marko says Lando Norris was the major talent Red Bull failed to sign and explains why many young drivers fail to progress in the Red Bull system. Marko emphasises that “talent alone is not enough,” highlighting the mental demands and pressure that define Red Bull’s driver philosophy.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says “unexpected severe porpoising” caused the plank wear that led to Norris and Piastri’s disqualification in Las Vegas. Both drivers lost major points, and Stella apologised as the title fight tightens with two races left.
George Russell lost a strong pole position opportunity in Las Vegas after a sudden steering issue disrupted his final Q3 laps. He starts fourth but believes the race still offers a chance to recover.
Carlos Sainz keeps his third grid position for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix after stewards dismissed an impeding claim. His strong pace in difficult weather conditions gives Williams a competitive starting point for the race.
Max Verstappen enters the Las Vegas Grand Prix 49 points behind Lando Norris with limited scenarios keeping him in the title race. Only a near perfect finish can extend his hopes.
Lando Norris tightened his grip on the 2025 title fight with a controlled win in Sao Paulo, while Max Verstappen delivered one of the drives of the season with a podium from a pit lane start. Yuki Tsunoda’s race collapsed under two penalties.
