Piastri’s season start goes from bad to worse with both McLarens out of Chinese GP
This time last year, Oscar Piastri stood atop the podium in Shanghai after winning the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.
Piastri, who exited his home Grand Prix during the discovery tour last week, was looking to recreate that magic and start the 2026 season.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris withdrew from the race in Shanghai.Credit: access point
Unfortunately, the Australian will have to wait.
Both McLarens were excluded from the Chinese Grand Prix before the race started, with Mclaren detecting electrical problems in the cars.
“Unfortunately, we identified separate issues with both cars that prevented them from starting the Chinese GP, resulting in Oscar being removed from the grid shortly before the formation lap,” the team said on social media.
“We will now try to identify each problem.”
After the race, cameras recorded Piastri leaving the garage with his head bowed. The Australian has shed his racing suit and put on his team jersey again, and he looks rather melancholy.
F1 commentator David Croft said he was gutted about Piastri.
“This wasn’t the start of the campaign he would have wanted… especially after Melbourne,” he said.
Piastri crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix before the race even started. He lost the car during acceleration in turns four and five, crashing the left side of the McLaren car into the outside wall and scattering debris across the track.
The 24-year-old Australian driver escaped unhurt, but was unable to continue driving due to the McLaren’s right front wheel shaking and serious damage to its bodywork.
It’s a less-than-ideal start for Piastri, who narrowly lost the 2025 title to teammate Lando Norris.
With Mercedes’ extraordinary pace, their championship win in 2026 looks uncertain.
