Max Verstappen takes advantage of McLaren’s double KO and jumps back into the fight

Max Verstappen triumphed in Las Vegas and, thanks to the penalties handed to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, reduced his championship deficit from 42 points to just 24. He now shares second place with Piastri and has become a genuine contender for the 2025 crown. As Firstsportz highlighted, the illegal wear on the MCL-39’s floorboards was the cause of the double disqualification. The error exceeded the permitted limit by 9 mm, leaving McLaren without points for the first time this season.

The sanction hit Norris directly, as the championship leader now sees his advantage shrink against Max Verstappen. And it all comes right before the final two rounds of the calendar: Qatar and Abu Dhabi. With 58 points still up for grabs, the pressure on the Briton is immense. The FIA delivered a clear verdict, while McLaren, visibly frustrated, avoided immediate statements and limited itself to announcing that an official press release would follow.

Reviving his chances

For Max Verstappen, this season has been a rollercoaster. After losing ground in the first half of the year, he seemed resigned to watching the title slip away. Yet his victory in Las Vegas, combined with McLaren’s setback, has put him back at the center of the conversation. The Dutchman knows he cannot afford mistakes in the final two races, but his pace and consistency make him a formidable rival.

 

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The opportunity for Max Verstappen is golden, and he must seize it. Meanwhile, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella looked visibly upset and refused to answer questions after the sanction. Communications chief Luca Colajanni asked journalists to leave the press area, confirming there would be no comments until the FIA’s official publication. The tension inside the team is obvious, and the double disqualification leaves deep wounds at a critical stage of the season. Now anything can happen, and hopes have been reignited for some.

DECISION INCOMING

Andrea Stella has returned from the FIA meeting and went straight into the hospitality suite, leaving the press officer, Luca Colajanni, to address the dozen waiting Media, saying the team would not comment until the FIA has formally communicatedthedecision.… pic.twitter.com/FjhPBvQxQZ

— Kym Illman (@KymIllman) November 23, 2025

An open ending

The championship fight now boils down to three names: Norris, Piastri, and Max Verstappen. All three have realistic chances, though the Briton still holds a slight edge. The situation is a reminder that Formula 1 is a sport where technical details can decide a title. Verstappen, with his Las Vegas victory, proved he can exploit every opportunity and that he has no intention of giving up.

In the end, what happened in Las Vegas was not just a win for Max Verstappen, but an unexpected twist that has revitalized the championship battle. The city of sin and high stakes delivered everything in this Grand Prix: drama, controversy, and excitement right down to the final lap.