The start of the 2026 Formula 1 season has proven to be a rude awakening for McLaren. After ending the previous era among the front-runners, the Woking-based team now finds itself dealing with a complex technical challenge brought about by the introduction of a brand-new set of regulations that have reshuffled the competitive order.
Across the opening two races of the campaign, several issues have emerged, significantly affecting both performance and results. On one side, there is the new Mercedes power unit, which currently appears to be best understood and utilized only by the Brackley works team. On the other, the MCL40 has shown inherent structural weaknesses, including a lack of aerodynamic load and a car weight exceeding the regulatory target.
This technical deficit at the beginning of 2026 has translated into three retirements across two races and a total of just 18 points scored so far. In Australia, only Lando Norris managed to take part in the race, while in China neither of the two McLaren drivers made it to the start. The issues encountered in Shanghai were primarily electronic in nature, as highlighted by team principal Andrea Stella, and were therefore linked to the Mercedes power unit.
Norris: “I stayed in the car for the first two laps hoping for a red flag”
“I found out about the problem about 20 minutes before leaving the garage. They had been working on it for a while; there was an electrical issue with the power unit, so I couldn’t even start,” Norris explained, describing how his Sunday in China unfolded. After securing fourth place in the Sprint, the British driver had been hoping for a much stronger result in the Grand Prix itself.
“There are some new problems that we are still discovering from time to time. Everyone is disappointed that we couldn’t get the car on track today, and they will work hard to try and fix the issue.”
Shortly before the race start, the issue initially appeared to have been resolved following a control electronics replacement, and Norris was preparing to start from the pit lane. However, the car ultimately failed to make it onto the circuit.
“They were trying to fix it. You never know. We even stayed in the car for the first two laps, in case there was a red flag or something like that and luck came our way, but it didn’t happen. Basically, we just wanted to be ready to go, in case something magically appeared and started working. But not today.”
Unsurprisingly, disappointment dominated the mood inside the McLaren garage after the race. For Lando Norris, there was an additional layer of frustration beyond the DNS result.
“It’s a shame—my first non-start in Formula 1, and even worse, it’s a double DNS with Oscar as well. So yes, it’s not been the best day for us. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t go out and do my job today. I’m frustrated for the whole team. Everyone puts in so much effort, and it’s a very complex machine. There are a lot of new things.”
Piastri: “McLaren issues? Not a big surprise at the start of new regulations”
Oscar Piastri also encountered an electrical issue related to the control electronics, although it was not identical to the one that affected Norris’ car. The Australian driver reflected on McLaren’s difficulties in China, describing them as “not a big surprise” given the introduction of the new technical regulations.
Unlike his teammate, Oscar Piastri only discovered the issue after taking his place on the starting grid. “I think it was an electrical problem with the power unit, which seems to have been similar to Lando’s, but not exactly the same electrical issue. So it’s obviously disappointing.”
Oscar Piastri admitted that missing out on racing was hard to accept, particularly given the anticipation surrounding the event, but acknowledged that such problems can occur when new rules are introduced.
“It’s been a while since I last watched two Grands Prix on TV,” he joked. “Obviously, this is a bit different. Last week was quite hard to take. Unfortunately, things like this can happen in racing, especially at the start of new regulations. It’s probably not a big surprise. It’s just a shame that it happened to both cars at the same time.”
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