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Piastri's F1 catastrophe: What went wrong for McLaren?
Emily Benammar • March 15th, 2026 8:28 pm
Three points from a sprint race and zero laps of a Grand Prix completed.
It’s not how anyone imagined Oscar Piastri’s 2026 season would start.
Sadly, it’s a reality the Aussie and McLaren will have to come to terms with after a double disaster in China.
Piastri had been due to start from fifth in Shanghai with his teammate Lando Norris in sixth. Neither car made it out of the pitlane as their rivals headed off for a formation lap.
There were thin hopes the duo could have started from pitlane and salvaged something from the race. It was not to be.
"Unfortunately, we identified separate issues on both cars which prevented them from starting the Chinese GP, with Oscar's being removed from the grid shortly before the formation lap. We will now work to identify each issue,” McLaren sent out on their social media platforms after it was confirmed neither car would start.
Adding to the team statement, Ted Kravitz, who reports from pitlane, told Sky F1: "McLaren say it's two completely different electrical issues, they are related to the power unit.
"A random set of circumstances the team said. The cars were fine in the sprint race and this is a terrible coincidence. What can you say?
It’s the second consecutive race that Piastri has failed to make the start line for after he spun out on the formation lap in Melbourne last weekend.
"I am gutted for Oscar Piastri, this is not the start of a season he would have anticipated," David Croft said on Sky F1.
