Russell Tops FP3 as McLaren Collapses Before Verstappen Wins Las Vegas GP
When George Russell crossed the line in Free Practice 3 at the 2025 Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on Friday night, he didn’t just set the fastest lap—he exposed a fault line in McLaren’s campaign. His 1:34.054 lap, set at 23:30:16 UTC on November 21, 2025, left Max Verstappen scrambling. Verstappen, the reigning champion, was just 0.200 seconds back, but his final flying lap was scrubbed after a slide through Turn 12. It wasn’t a fluke. It was a warning. The Las Vegas Strip Circuit, a 6.120-kilometer stretch of neon-lit tarmac between Harmon Avenue and Sahara Avenue, had chewed up more than just tires—it had chewed up expectations.
Practice Chaos Under the Neon
The session began with a slick, damp surface after light rain had soaked the track earlier in the day. Drivers rolled out on Pirelli’s intermediate tires, the green-walled compounds clinging to the asphalt like wet chalk. Oscar Piastri was first out, as usual, but by the final 15 minutes, the track had dried enough for soft tires. That’s when things unraveled. McLaren’s pit wall froze. A sensor glitch in Piastri’s car triggered a false fuel pressure reading. Lando Norris’s telemetry went dark for 47 seconds. Neither driver managed a clean lap after the 22nd minute. They finished 19th and 20th—last. It was the kind of performance that makes engineers stare at screens in silence.The Race That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen
Saturday night’s race felt like a different event. Verstappen led from pole, but Russell, in second, was holding his own—until lap 32, when he radioed Mercedes: “I’m not risking it. Let him pass.” He wasn’t being humble. He was being smart. Norris, in the McLaren, was faster. And by lap 34, he was through. But then came the order: “Go get Max.” Verstappen heard it. He didn’t flinch. He just opened the throttle. By lap 37, his lead ballooned to 5.5 seconds. Norris crossed the line 20.741 seconds behind. Russell, third, was 23.546 seconds back. It looked like a podium for Mercedes and McLaren. Until the stewards called it.Disqualification and the Domino Effect
The FIA released its post-race technical bulletin at 2:17 a.m. local time. Both McLarens—Norris and Piastri—were disqualified. Why? A rear wing adjustment that exceeded the 15mm lateral movement limit under load. The same rule that had tripped up Red Bull in Silverstone last year. This time, it was McLaren’s turn. The official results wiped their names clean. Points? Zero. Championship implications? Catastrophic. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams Racing, finished seventh. But with both McLarens gone, he moved into fifth. That single position was enough to lock Williams into their best constructors’ finish since 2017. Sainz didn’t win. He didn’t even podium. But his quiet consistency became the story.
Championship Math After the Chaos
The fallout wasn’t just about race results. Verstappen now sits on 366 championship points. But here’s the twist: he’s still 12 behind Piastri and 42 behind Norris—in the standings. Because the FIA keeps disqualified drivers on the championship table until the appeal window closes. That means Verstappen’s lead isn’t growing. It’s frozen. And with two races left—including the season finale in Abu Dhabi—this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old Mercedes rookie, finished fourth on track but got a five-second penalty for a false start. He ended up behind Piastri in the official classification. That’s right—the teenager, who only joined the team in July, was outpaced by a driver who didn’t even finish the race.What’s Next? The Abu Dhabi Wildcard
The Abu Dhabi Grand PrixYas Marina Circuit looms on November 29. It’s a track where Mercedes has historically struggled, but where Verstappen has dominated. If McLaren’s technical issues persist, they could lose their grip on second in the constructors’ standings. Williams, meanwhile, smells blood. And with the Sprint race format still in play, the final weekend could flip everything.
Behind the Scenes: The Real Cost of a Mistake
McLaren’s engineers are reportedly reviewing 17,000 data points from the Las Vegas weekend. The rear wing issue wasn’t just a setup error—it was a procedural failure. One sensor, one misread, one missed calibration. In F1, that’s all it takes. The team’s morale, already fragile after a string of DNFs, is now in freefall. Meanwhile, Mercedes, despite Russell’s strong pace, is quietly celebrating. They’ve got a driver in the title hunt, a rookie who’s learning fast, and a team that didn’t self-destruct.Frequently Asked Questions
Why were both McLarens disqualified after finishing second and third?
Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified because their rear wings exceeded the FIA’s 15mm lateral flex limit under load—a technical breach detected during post-race scrutineering. Even though they crossed the line in the top two, the FIA’s rules are absolute: any car that violates technical regulations loses all points and race positions, regardless of on-track performance.
How did George Russell manage to beat Verstappen in practice but lose the race?
Russell’s FP3 pace came from a clean, low-fuel setup optimized for one fast lap. In the race, he carried full fuel, heavier tires, and more aerodynamic drag. Verstappen’s Red Bull had superior race pace and tire management. Russell chose to conserve his tires and avoid a risky battle with Norris, letting him pass. That decision, while smart, cost him a shot at the win—and gave Verstappen breathing room to pull away.
What does the disqualification mean for the constructors’ championship?
With McLaren stripped of 34 points, Williams Racing leapfrogged them into second place in the constructors’ standings. Carlos Sainz’s seventh-place finish, now elevated to fifth, was the difference. Williams is on track for its best finish since 2017. McLaren, once leading the pack, now trails by 29 points with just two races left—making a comeback nearly impossible.
Why is Verstappen still behind Norris and Piastri in the championship if he won the race?
The FIA retains disqualified drivers’ points in the championship standings until their appeals are resolved or the season ends. Even though Norris and Piastri were stripped of their race results, their earlier points from previous races still count. Verstappen’s 366 points are real, but Norris and Piastri’s totals remain higher because they scored consistently before Las Vegas. That’s why Verstappen’s lead isn’t growing—it’s being held back by paperwork.
Could McLaren appeal the disqualification?
Yes, McLaren has 72 hours to file an appeal, but experts say their chances are slim. The FIA’s data on rear wing flex is irrefutable, and similar cases in 2024 (like Red Bull in Austria) were upheld. Even if they appeal, the team would need to prove the sensor failure was unrelated to the wing’s design—a near-impossible task. More likely, they’ll focus on fixing the issue before Abu Dhabi.
Is the Las Vegas circuit to blame for McLaren’s problems?
Not directly. The circuit’s bumpy, low-grip surface stressed all cars, but only McLaren’s wing failed. Teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Williams handled it fine. The issue was internal: McLaren’s setup was too aggressive, pushing the wing beyond its design limits. It’s a team error, not a track flaw. The Strip exposed a weakness—not created it.
