Drivers Gain Positions Following McLaren's Double DSQ
McLaren’s celebration of their success in Las Vegas was cut short following an FIA investigation into their rear skid block. It was found to be outside of regulation limits, and both drivers were subsequently disqualified, ending what was otherwise a fairly strong weekend for the pair. Lando Norris, leading the championship, had taken the podium with a P2 finish. Oscar Piastri, trailing Norris in the WDC standings, finished fourth, doing his best to keep the point gap from growing. While the unfortunate circumstances have voided McLaren’s points from the weekend, other drivers celebrate moving up in the rankings as two drivers disappeared from the race results.
Unaffected by the DSQ in terms of grid position, the one benefiting the most from the investigation is undoubtedly the four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Despite winning the race, many believed that he was still out of the running for a fifth championship title this year. Norris claiming second place while already leading in the standings would have extended his lead enough that Max would have needed to win both of the remaining races and have Norris finish out of the points. Those circumstances were always unlikely, but with Norris losing his points from Vegas, the gap is much smaller than it would have been. Verstappen now trails Norris by only 24 points, a much more realistic point gap to close by the end of the season.
It was already a strong weekend for Carlos Sainz when he took third in the Friday qualifying during the harrowing wet conditions. Williams Racing has looked strong all year, but the assumption has remained that they would not have a car that could compete with the top four teams in any individual race. As such, it was not considered a bad result for the Spaniard when he finished the Vegas Grand Prix in seventh position, having lost ground to the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari. For Williams, finishing in the points is considered a victory, as they look to hold their fifth place in the Constructors’ Standings until the end of the year. However, with both McLarens finishing above him, Sainz moved up two positions after the disqualification, with the updated results putting him in P5. It’s a major win for the driver, who claimed earlier this year that he would be unable to achieve any top-five finishes, but also for the team, as they claim an additional four points.
Lastly, it’s the Mercedes rookie that everyone has talked about all season who gained so much from the McLaren incident. Kimi Antonelli has had a tremendously successful rookie year in the sport, with two podiums and a legendary pace that many compare to the great Ayrton Senna. After a disappointing Qualifying where he was unable to leave Q1, the Italian upstart began the Vegas GP in 17th position, only to put on a performance similar to what fans saw Max Verstappen do in the recent Brazilian Grand Prix. Moving up 12 positions over the course of the night and making the absolute most of his tires, Antonelli showed skill not just in his ability to overtake, but to defend as well. With the disqualification of the McLaren drivers, he moved from P5 to P3, a podium finish, and his third of the year. He joins some of the top drivers of all time with his astonishing success in his first year of Formula 1.
