McLaren claim FIA to investigate potential rule change after Las Vegas disqualification

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has claimed the FIA is investigating the possibility of making a rule change following its double disqualification in Las Vegas.

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race after their skid blocks were found to be excessively worn.

F1 skid blocks are not allowed to be less than 9 mm in thickness at the end of every race, and the automatic penalty for exceeding the allowance is disqualification.

McLaren had no grounds to argue the case due to how technical infringements are managed in F1, leading to the Woking-based squad's painful removal from the race classification.

However, Stella has stated the FIA is exploring the possibility of handing out lesser penalties depending on the scale of the irregularity and the performance gained by doing so.

“We verified together with the technical delegate, that the measurement of the skid thickness was correct,” Stella said.

“Even if the excessive wear is relatively minor and in only one location, (as it was 0.12 mm for Lando and 0.26 mm for Oscar), the regulation is very clear that the rear skids need to be at least 9mm at the end of the race in every location. 

“Unlike sporting or financial rules – there is no proportionality in the application of penalties for technical regulation infringements. 

“The FIA itself has admitted that this lack of proportionality should be addressed in the future to ensure that minor and accidental technical infringements, with minimal or no performance benefits, do not lead to disproportionate consequences. 

“It should also be remembered that the FIA itself emphasised that the infringement was not intentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and there were also mitigating circumstances, as we explained to the event stewards.”

McLaren DSQ not due to an 'unreasonable chase of performance'

McLaren has faced an increased threat from Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship following the summer break, who has closed the gap on the McLaren pair over the last handful of rounds.

Following McLaren's disqualification, Verstappen now sits 24 points down on the championship lead with two rounds to go.

The Dutchman has won four of the last seven grands prix, while McLaren has won just two races in the same period.

Stella asserted McLaren's disqualification in Las Vegas was not a result of chasing performance to hold back the four-time champion's threat.

“What happened in Vegas was due to an anomaly in the behaviour of the car, rather than it being the outcome of an excessive or unreasonable chase of performance,” Stella asserted.

“Our way of acting and thinking as a team, with a strong focus on performance, has brought us to where we are today, namely winning two consecutive constructors' titles and having two drivers at the top of the championship with two races to go. 

“We, as a team, constantly learn from experience and we calibrate our approach all the time and we will certainly use any information gained through the situation experienced in Vegas.