FIA cautions about plank wear as the championship race intensifies.

      The FIA has reportedly delivered an "official warning" to teams regarding plank wear ahead of this weekend’s Qatar GP, following McLaren’s dual disqualification in Las Vegas. Austria’s Osterreich newspaper indicates that the governing body will "closely monitor" the racing pace and ride-height behavior of both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, after their violations regarding skid blocks altered the championship race.

      This follows recent discussions about methods such as heat-treating titanium skids and other innovative plank-protection strategies, initially mentioned after Interlagos. The scenario sets the stage for an exciting conclusion - Norris could mathematically secure the 2025 world title in Qatar, while Verstappen and Piastri are tied for second place, just 24 points behind.

      McLaren team principal Andrea Stella asserts that the events in Vegas will not lead to a more cautious approach. "What happened in Las Vegas won’t change our approach to this weekend," he stated. "The mentality that has brought us two Constructors’ championships and placed two drivers in the Championship contention remains unchanged - we aim to push to the limit and maximize our potential. Painful moments are part of our sport, but they also provide lessons and help us grow stronger. We’ve analyzed everything, made improvements, and moved forward."

      Qatar is anticipated to suit McLaren fairly well, though most believe Verstappen and Red Bull will have the upper hand. Former F1 driver Christian Danner expressed that McLaren needs to demonstrate their ability to handle the pressure. "This was a communication issue," he told German media regarding the Las Vegas incident. "If I see as a data engineer that the floor enters a danger zone, I need to immediately communicate - lift and coast! That didn’t happen, or was too late. This is simply amateurish."

      He argued that the team should have taken fewer risks, stating, "When it comes to a world championship, drive carefully, not aggressively. Those vying for the championship have a lot to learn. The calmness required in a title fight - you don't see that at McLaren yet. The only one who has mastered it perfectly is Verstappen." Danner dismissed the notion that McLaren was forced into mistakes by outside pressures. "Who is compelling McLaren to take that risk? If the opponent is pressuring you, you’re already beaten. Stay calm, or you’ll lose the championship mentally before you lose it on the track."

      In the meantime, the composed Verstappen maintains that the strategy for Qatar will remain the same. "The points in the Championship have become closer after Vegas," he noted, "but we will still approach the weekend in the same manner as before and take it one race at a time. We enter with a focus on maximizing points and achieving the best performance possible. It’s a Sprint weekend, so there are more points on offer - we can only afford to have a perfect weekend."