Just a few hour after the latest Formula 1 race, in Las Vegas, everything was erased for the McLaren-Mercedes team as both of its cars were disqualified for excessive plank wear (along the bottom of the car). Lando Norris had secured pole position and gone on to finish second, and Oscar Piastri had started from a relatively poor fifth and finished fourth, but none of that mattered in the end. Defending champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) continued his superb form to win the race, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli finishing second and third to make it an excellent two-three finish for the Mercedes team.
With two races left in the 2025 season, Mr. Norris leads the drivers’ standings with 390 points, and Mr. Piastri and Mr. Verstappen are tied on 366 points. The first driver there is still the favourite to win the drivers’ championship, the second continues to suffer in form, and the third is without doubt the best driver of the three, but it remains to be seen whether Red Bull can give him a fast and reliable car.
Only a couple of months ago, no one could have predicted that the drivers’ championship would be so close at this end of the season. A driver error, a technical failure, or an accident from nowhere (witness how Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was taken out of the Sao Paulo event just a fortnight ago) could change the final standings. Who deserves to win? Undoubtedly, Mr. Verstappen. Who will probably win? Most likely, Mr. Norris. Who will probably fall out of contention in the next race? Most likely, Mr. Piastri.
But nothing is certain, except that the next two races will be interesting to watch.