McLaren was unable to convince the FIA stewards at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to mitigate the decision to disqualify Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from the classified results.
Having originally finished second and fourth, respectively, their exclusion from the event has considerable F1 drivers' championship implications, with Max Verstappen now on equal points with the latter, only 24 points adrift of the former with two rounds remaining.
The Qatar Grand Prix, which is a sprint weekend, and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are both expected to favour the MCL39 over the Red Bull.
However, it is a significant dent in the Woking-based squad's aspirations of taking home both crowns in 2025, especially given how formidable the Dutchman is in the cockpit of the RB21.
The papaya outfit wrapped up the constructors' title in Singapore, but Norris now faces a notably more difficult prospect over the rest of the campaign.
Ironically, Piastri is slightly advantaged by the development in Nevada, having expected to head to Qatar 30 points behind his team-mate.
McLaren unsuccessfully argued against its two drivers being disqualified for excessive plank wear in Sin City, with both falling short of the required 9mm thickness of the skids on the bottom of their cars.
The team built its case around three main factors, contending that there was "additional and unexpected porpoising" at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, according to the official FIA decision document, and that weather and shortened practice sessions prevented the opportunity to adequately test plank wear.
It also pointed out that its breach was "lower than prior breaches of this regulation in 2025", seemingly in reference to Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly in China and Nico Hulkenberg in Bahrain.
In response, the motorsport governing body stated that there was "no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than the usual penalty (i.e. disqualification)."
Nonetheless, the FIA did acknowledge that it "strongly held" the opinion that "the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations."
McLaren and the FIA's arguments from the official decision document
The Team argued that mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions.
Further the Team submitted that the degree of the breach was lower than prior breaches of this regulation in 2025.
The FIA argued that unfortunately there was no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than the usual penalty (i.e. disqualification).
The FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there was not a deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.
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