McLaren’s Vegas DSQ flips the title script — and Piastri might be the one to pay for it
McLaren walked out of Las Vegas with a double disqualification and an awkward headache: how do you fight for a World Championship with two drivers, two races left, and a Red Bull circling? For Oscar Piastri, the answer might be unpalatable.
Post-race checks in Nevada tossed both Lando Norris and Piastri for excessive skid-block wear — a modern ground-effect pitfall that’s bitten more than a few teams — and it’s blown the drivers’ picture wide open. Piastri’s now 24 points behind Norris and, more tellingly, level on points with Max Verstappen for third. With that math and only two rounds to go, the cold, grown-up decision for McLaren is obvious: pick a spearhead. As PlanetF1’s Michelle Foster notes, it’s hard to see the team not leaning into team orders from here, shielding Norris and making Piastri the blocker if the title stays within reach.
No one likes it, least of all race drivers built on pure self-belief. But if McLaren want to keep Verstappen at bay and stop Red Bull from turning that DSQ into a momentum swing, this is the type of ruthless call title fights demand. It’s not a verdict on Piastri’s season — he’s been razor-sharp — just where the scoreboard landed after Vegas.
Mercedes fury on mute: Bono calls Antonelli penalty “complete BS”
Meanwhile, the most colourful radio of the night didn’t make the world feed. Untelevised team comms revealed Peter Bonnington — yes, that Bono, the long-time voice in Lewis Hamilton’s ear — branding Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s five-second false-start penalty “complete BS.”
The rookie made the best of it and still came home third in the reshuffled order after McLaren’s exclusion, but the sting clearly lingered on the pit wall. You can see why: in a razor-thin fight at the front, five seconds is a chasm, and Antonelli’s raw pace since stepping into the big seat has made every call around him feel consequential. The radio won’t change the result, though it does underline just how combative Mercedes have become with their new prodigy in the mix.
Brawn backs Hamilton at Ferrari — with a 2026 asterisk
Ross Brawn doesn’t do knee-jerk. The former Ferrari mastermind and Mercedes architect has offered a steadying hand on Hamilton’s choppy first year at Maranello, expressing confidence the seven-time champion will ride out the turbulence. But Brawn’s caveat is a big one: 2026.
With the next rules reset looming large, Brawn’s view is clear — the true measure of Hamilton’s Ferrari project will arrive with the new package. He’s been here before: he guided Michael Schumacher through Ferrari’s growing pains, then played a key role in bringing Hamilton to Mercedes in 2013, laying the groundwork for an era. The subtext? Ferrari need to stick the 2026 landing. If they do, Hamilton’s story in red could still sing.
Vettel keeps the door open — and Porsche talks were real
Sebastian Vettel is warming to the idea of getting his hands dirty again. The four-time World Champion hasn’t raced since 2022, but he’s not ready to slam the door on a comeback. He’s already admitted to talks with Porsche after sampling their hypercar early in 2024, and while nothing’s signed, the appetite’s clearly there.
It wouldn’t be a shock if Vettel’s next move isn’t F1 — and that’s fine. The man has nothing left to prove on a Sunday afternoon, but the competitive itch never fully fades. If he chooses a top-tier endurance seat, that would look less like a coda and more like a new chapter, on his terms.
Red Bull can’t resist a jab
And because the internet is undefeated, Red Bull’s sim racing outfit popped up on Instagram with some “friendly advice” for McLaren after the Vegas DSQ. It’s the kind of cheeky poke that comes with a rivalry as tight — and occasionally spiky — as this one. McLaren will shrug. But they’ll also know the smallest details are deciding races, and right now, the smallest detail just cost them a bucket of points.
The bottom line
– McLaren’s DSQ forces a strategy call. With Norris ahead and Verstappen lurking, Piastri may be asked to play the team game over the final two rounds.
– Mercedes aren’t meek about it. Bonnington’s “complete BS” verdict on Antonelli’s penalty shows the steel behind the rookie’s campaign.
– Hamilton’s Ferrari arc needs time. Brawn thinks the 2026 rules reset will be the real litmus test.
– Vettel’s not done with racing. Porsche talks happened; the door remains ajar.
– Red Bull keeps the banter rolling. McLaren have bigger worries than memes — but they won’t have missed the message.
Two races to go. The title fight just got messier, the politics sharper, and the margins cruel. Exactly how F1 likes it.
