McLaren is unsure about the cause of the powertrain-related problems that left Oscar Piatri and Lando Norris unable to start the Chinese Grand Prix.
Piastri and Norris were scheduled to start from the third row of the grid, but two problems unrelated to the same powertrain components forced both drivers to watch the race from the paddock.
This meant Piastri had not yet completed a Grand Prix racing lap after crashing at his home event in Australia, while Norris suffered his first career DNS.
McLaren boss Stella has confirmed that the team’s engine supplier Mercedes is investigating what caused McLaren to suffer its first two start failures since the 2005 United States Grand Prix.
“We came here to race and today we were not in the conditions to do so due to technical issues. This is very disappointing and frustrating for the team, drivers, technical and commercial partners and fans,” Stella said. Sky Sports F1.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go back to Japan to sort out the technical issues. As I was leaving the garage with Lando’s car ready, I discovered a problem with the electrical side of the powertrain. I tried to fix it, but there was no way to fix it.”
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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri discuss what happened after both McLarens were forced to miss the Chinese Grand Prix due to electrical issues.
“When we were on the grid we noticed another problem with the electrical side of the power unit on Oscar’s side. It seemed like they were different problems occurring at the same time and it basically meant there was no way to start the race.
“It’s a very unfortunate coincidence that two different problems appear at the same time on the electrical side of the powertrain, but that’s it.
“We move forward as a team. Together with HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains) we will investigate, see what we learn, and make sure this never happens again.”
F1 Constructors Championship after Chinese GP
Stella: Points lost could be important at the end of the season
Norris’ title defense has not had an easy start, and McLaren is also aiming for a third straight constructor’s title.
McLaren appears to be around half a second slower than pace-leading Mercedes, but has shown in recent years that it can outperform its rivals over the course of a season.
Stella says the extra tracking time to get more data was useful, but losing the opportunity to score more was more “harmful.”
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After Andrea Stella complains about the lack of engine information provided by Mercedes, Bernie Collins discusses whether that’s why the McLaren is slower compared to Mercedes’ work.
“At the moment Mercedes are in a category of their own and we look a little closer to Ferrari, but we are clearly competing with the ambition to compete for important results,” he said.
“We are just losing ground. These points could be important at the end of the season so the most important drawback of what happened today is not getting a point.
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McLaren and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have reached a milestone in their mission to accelerate coral reef recovery. That’s the first reveal of Machine One, designed to solve one of the most persistent constraints on coral reef restoration: speed.
“At the same time, it is quite unfortunate and disappointing from a commercial and technical perspective, both for our fans and for our partners, so there are definitely some downsides.
“In 2026, every lap counts. At the same time, I think we are learning very quickly. And based on what we learned from the Australian and Chinese sprints, I think we are actually in a good position, especially in terms of power unit utilization.”
Formula 1 heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from March 27-29. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
