Kyle Archer: McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have occupied the top two spots in the F1 drivers’ championship since round 4 of 24 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. But Red Bull rival Max Verstappen will fancy his chances of surpassing Piastri after the Qatar Grand Prix.

A leading Formula One commentator believes McLaren’s decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo with Oscar Piastri three years ago may have put the team in the position now where it could be about to lose the unlosable drivers championship.

McLaren F1 champion Mika Hakkinen has torn down sensitive favouritism rumours involving the Woking-based outfit. A theory has been posed forward regarding McLaren throwing in their support behind Lando Norris’ title bid over the team’s second driver Oscar Piastri.

A breach of Article 3.5.9 of the F1 technical regulations obliges an automatic disqualification from the race if an underfloor skid block has a thickness below 9mm. It is said that McLaren telling Norris to lift and coast in the Las Vegas GP alerted the FIA’s stewards to check his car.

After double disqualification at the Las Vegas GP, should McLaren now do all that it can to support Lando Norris in the F1 drivers’ title battle?

Lando Norris leads the drivers' championship, but his position is far more precarious after disqualification in Las Vegas

McLaren’s double disqualification has dramatically changed the complexities of the 2025 F1 world championship battle and brought Max Verstappen back into contention. Norris and Oscar Piastri were thrown out of the race after finishing second and fourth because their MCL39s were found to have excessive skid-block wear.

The Qatar Grand Prix will be a pressure-packed penultimate round of the 2025 F1 season. Here's what to watch out for at the Lusail event