F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 Incidents

November 16, 2025 – Las Vegas, NV: The 2025 Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered a night of high-speed thrills and unexpected drama on the glittering Las Vegas Strip street circuit. As round 22 of the 2025 F1 World Championship, the event had all the ingredients of a Vegas spectacle – dazzling lights, high stakes, and unpredictable twists – including on-track incidents from first-lap collisions and frustrating broadcast blunders, to a post-race double disqualification that shook up the final results and even handed a rookie driver a surprise podium finish.

The Las Vegas Strip provides a spectacular backdrop for Formula 1 cars under the neon lights.

A Neon Spectacle Returns to the Strip

The Las Vegas Grand Prix made its highly anticipated return for a second consecutive year, transforming the heart of Las Vegas into a high-speed racing festival. The 6.2-kilometer street circuit – winding past iconic landmarks like the Bellagio fountains and the towering MSG Sphere – once again challenged drivers with its blisteringly fast straightaways and deceptively tight corners. Under the floodlights and amidst the neon glow of the city, the atmosphere was electric.

One lucky fan staying at the Marriott’s Grand Chateau got a pleasant surprise: an unexpected bird’s-eye view of the racetrack right from their upgraded hotel room window. “Wasn’t expecting this view!” the fan posted excitedly on social media, alongside a photo of cars zooming by below. Such stories highlighted how the unusual trackside setting in Vegas allowed some creative spectators to turn luxury hotel rooms into personal viewing boxes.

Beyond the grandstands and VIP clubs, fans also packed balconies and pedestrian bridges, eager for any glimpse of the action. The buzz in the city was amplified by pre-race parties, celebrity appearances, and the now-famous Vegas Sphere displaying giant Formula 1-themed animations.

First-Lap Chaos and Carbon Fiber on Track

When the lights went out, the pack of 20 cars barreled into the first chicane where cold tires and high stakes proved a volatile mix. Minor contact between two midfield runners – believed to be Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll – sent a shard of carbon fiber skittering onto the racing line at Turn 3. The impact wasn’t caught clearly on the broadcast, leaving viewers to piece together what happened.

Race control swiftly deployed a Safety Car on lap 2 to allow marshals to safely recover the debris. The slow procession neutralized the race early on, prompting a flurry of strategic decisions. Valtteri Bottas limped to the pits with a damaged front wing, rejoining at the back of the field. The early Safety Car also set the stage for an unusual strategic masterstroke by rookie driver Andrea “Kimi” Antonelli, whose team boldly called him in to switch onto hard compound tyres, a decision that would prove pivotal.

Missed Moments and Broadcast Blunders Frustrate Fans

As racing resumed, the battle at the front intensified between Max Verstappen and George Russell. However, as the on-track action heated up, TV viewers grew increasingly frustrated with the live broadcast production.

One notable missed moment came during a crucial pit stop phase. As Verstappen exited the pit lane on fresh tires, he came out wheel-to-wheel alongside Russell, but fans at home didn’t see this drama unfold live. Instead, the broadcast was showing a replay. By the time the cameras cut back, Verstappen had narrowly retained his lead. Viewers were not pleased, and social media lit up with criticism of the broadcast direction.

“There are plenty of moments we’re not being shown in Vegas in the broadcast, most recently no visual of Verstappen exiting the pit just in front of Russell. I know the camera operators are fine, but whoever is sitting in the broadcast booth and choosing which cameras to show on broadcast needs to sort it out. Is anyone else being frustrated by this?”

This wasn’t the only instance of broadcast missteps, fueling debate over Formula 1’s broadcasting choices and calls to “focus on the track action, not just the show.”

High Stakes Under the Lights: Racing Highlights

Despite the early caution, the race delivered plenty of wheel-to-wheel action. Max Verstappen and George Russell engaged in a tense duel for the victory. The tactical battle came to a head when Verstappen pitted on lap 33 and narrowly rejoined ahead of Russell at the pit exit. The two nearly made contact at over 200 mph, but Verstappen held his nerve and his lead, a pivotal moment that effectively secured his victory.

Behind them, the McLaren team looked set for a fantastic result. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had shown competitive pace all weekend, charging through the field and keeping pressure on the leaders.

In the midfield, rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli made an early pit stop under the Safety Car and ran an astonishing 48 of the race’s 50 laps on the hard tyres. The young Italian displayed impressive tire management, gaining track position as others pitted. By lap 40, he had remarkably worked his way up to fourth place on the road, though a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits threatened his position.

Spark Show Hints at Trouble for McLaren

Under the neon skyline, fans could see sparks flying from the underbodies of the two McLarens. Photographers captured images of Oscar Piastri’s car throwing a halo of sparks as it bottomed out at high speed. However, it was Lando Norris’s car that raised eyebrows. Even on the final lap, Norris’s McLaren was still visibly scraping the track and sparking furiously.

This unusual sight suggested something was amiss with the McLarens’ ride height, causing the skid blocks (the legality plank on the car’s underbelly) to grind excessively against the tarmac. FIA rules specify a maximum wear of 1mm on this plank; anything more can lead to disqualification. In the bumpy Las Vegas street circuit, running a low ride height can yield more speed but also risks grinding down the plank—exactly what seemed to be happening.

Post-Race Scrutineering Bombshell – Double McLaren Disqualification

After 50 laps, Max Verstappen took the checkered flag to win, crossing the line ahead of Lando Norris and George Russell. Oscar Piastri finished fourth on the road. McLaren’s garage celebrated what they thought was a significant haul of points.

However, the celebrations were short-lived. In a stunning post-race twist, FIA scrutineers found both McLaren cars in breach of technical regulations due to excessive floor plank wear. An official FIA document confirmed that both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race results.

For McLaren, the double DSQ was a crushing blow, turning a potential double-podium celebration into zero points. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed frustration but acknowledged the outcome: “Rules are rules, and we respect the decision, but it’s a tough one to take.”

Surprise Podium for Rookie Kimi Antonelli

The shock disqualifications radically altered the final standings. George Russell was promoted to second place, and the biggest beneficiary was Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was elevated from 5th to third place, earning the 19-year-old rookie a surprise podium finish. This marked his third podium of the year, an impressive feat for the Mercedes junior.

Antonelli’s podium was made possible by his team’s audacious strategy and his composed drive. After starting deep in the field, he managed his hard tyres for 48 laps, a remarkable display of consistency. The post-race disqualifications of the two McLarens catapulted him into P3. “It’s not how I imagined getting a podium here, but I’ll take it!” Antonelli said with a grin during the revised podium ceremony.

Final Race Results and Classification

With the McLarens excluded, the official final top 10 was as follows:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 25 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 18 points
3. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 15 points
4. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull Racing) – 12 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 10 points
6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 8 points
7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 6 points
8. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) – 4 points
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 2 points
10. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) – 1 point

The removal of the McLarens had significant implications for the Constructors’ Championship, where they are battling Mercedes and Ferrari for the runner-up position. With two rounds remaining, the gap between the teams has tightened, promising an exciting finish to the season.

Driver Reactions and Quotes

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull): “It was a tough race with a lot happening. The battle with George [Russell] after my pit stop was really on the limit... The atmosphere in Vegas is crazy – it’s 99% show and 1% racing sometimes, but in the end, we delivered a good result.”

• George Russell (Mercedes): “As for the McLarens, it’s a shame for Lando and Oscar. On track they earned those positions, but rules are rules in this sport. It's tough to see a double disqualification.”

• Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): “What a night! P5 on the road, and then I found out it’s P3... It’s not the way you want to get a podium, but I’ll still celebrate it! Three podiums in my rookie season… I’m over the moon.”

• Lando Norris (McLaren): “I’m devastated, to be honest. We raced our hearts out under tricky conditions and to lose P2 several hours after the finish is tough. The car was mega today, maybe a bit too low for its own good.”

Fan Experience: Highs and Lows

While the on-track racing kept fans on the edge of their seats, the TV audience experienced some frustration due to the broadcast missing key moments. Beyond these issues, the Las Vegas GP offered plenty for fans to discuss, from the unique midnight start time to the impressive spectator turnout of over 300,000. Improvements to the track and facilities after lessons learned in 2023 proved successful in delivering a smoother event, and the iconic Las Vegas Sphere entertained crowds with dynamic F1-themed visuals.

Championship Standings and What’s Next

Verstappen’s victory further solidified his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. In the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull Racing had long secured the title, but the fight for second between Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren has intensified after McLaren's zero-point race.

The Formula 1 circus now moves on to the final Middle Eastern double-header of the season.

Conclusion

The 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix will be remembered as much for its off-track spectacle as for its on-track drama. A race that began with debris flying at Turn 3, featured a furious battle for the lead, and ended hours later with two cars disqualified, truly had it all. While Max Verstappen’s victory cements his dominance, the headlines belong equally to the McLaren plank controversy and the remarkable story of teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli standing on an F1 podium. In true Vegas fashion, this Grand Prix proved a high-stakes game of chance, with some hitting the jackpot and others coming up empty-handed.