Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri did not take to the start line at the Chinese Grand Prix in an early-season disaster for McLaren.
Norris’s car, which was meant to start in sixth, missed the usual pre-race reconnaissance laps, as the reigning world champions looked to fix an electrical issue and start from the pit-lane.
Yet there was further shock when Oscar Piastri’s car – fifth on the grid – was wheeled into the garage just five minutes before lights out, with the Australian’s car encountering a different electrical issue.
Neither problem was fixed in time and the papaya-clad team did not take part in round two of the 2026 season. After his pre-race crash last week, it means Piastri has not taken part in a grand prix so far this season.
“Obviously we can’t race, it’s just frustrating,” Norris said. “It’s on the PU [power unit] side - the guys tried as hard as they could to find a solution but couldn’t.
“My first non-start in Formula 1, it’s tough to take but it’s life sometimes.”
Asked when he knew about the issue, Norris replied: “An hour or so before going out, I was just warming up and found out about it.
“They know it’s an issue they can’t fix for now, they need to look further into what it is, the next step will be trying to figure out how to fix it.”
It’s the first time McLaren have had a double DNS (did not start) since the US Grand Prix in 2005, when only a handful of cars took to the start line.
SHANGHAI GRAND PRIX TOP 10
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes) +5.515
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +25.267
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +28.894
5. Ollie Bearman (Haas) +57.268
6. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +59.647
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +80.588
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +87.247
9. Carlos Sainz (Williams) +1 lap
10. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +1 lap
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams’ Alex Albon also failed to take to the start line, with the race starting with only 18 cars.
Piastri said afterwards: “It was once I got out the car, not exactly sure what it is, we just know it’s an electrical issue on the PU side. Disappointing.”
He confirmed it was a different problem to the one which had scuppered Norris’ chances of taking part, adding: “It’s been a while since I watched two F1 races from the sidelines. The Ferraris look pretty quick, we’ll see how long that lasts.”
Mercedes continued their early-season dominance with a one-two in Shanghai, with Kimi Antonelli winning his first grand prix from pole - making history as the first teenager in F1 history to take top spot in qualifying - and teammate George Russell taking second.
“Thank you everyone so much, you made me achieve one of my dreams,” an emotional Antonelli said.
The 19-year-old was also the first Italian to win a grand prix for 20 years, adding afterwards: “I’m speechless, I’m about to cry to be honest. I’m super happy. I said yesterday I really wanted to bring Italy back on top, even though I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack at the end,” referring to a sudden lock-up in the third-last lap.
Lewis Hamilton’s sole highlight of a dire first season with Ferrari was a sprint win in Shanghai, and a year later he achieved his first grand prix podium with the Scuderia in the same city, coming in third.
“Fantastic job guys, really well done, well done for the hard work,” he enthused on the radio. “Keep pushing back in Maranello, we have work to do. Let’s keep pushing, forza Ferrari!”
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