McLaren misfortune in Melbourne: Oscar Piastri crashes on formation lap, misses season opener. Oscar Piastri will miss the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.

F1 | McLaren starts with a bang: Piastri crashes before the start and will not race

Oscar Piastri will not start the Australian Grand Prix after crashing into the barriers on the exit of Turn 4 during the formation laps, destroying the front end of his McLaren in the process.

Even before the race began, Australia witnessed a major twist. The Melbourne-born driver will miss the opening race of the season after hitting the barriers on the exit of Turn 4 during the laps leading up to the grid, causing severe damage to the right front of his car.

Exiting the left-hand side of Turn 4, Oscar Piastri suddenly lost control of his McLaren while accelerating over the bumpiest part of the track—a section that had previously caused problems for other drivers due to its undulations and curbing.

Fortunately, Piastri walked away unscathed from the impact, but the front end of his McLaren was completely destroyed. The right front suspension was irreparably damaged, making it impossible to fix before the race start. With no other option, the Australian had to leave the car parked at the exit of Turn 4, unable to attempt returning to the pit lane due to the extent of the damage.

Piastri had qualified fifth for his home Grand Prix and was set to start on the third row alongside his teammate Lando Norris. The crash is a huge disappointment for Australian fans, who had flocked to the track to support their hometown hero and now will not see him compete on race day.

The grandstand dedicated to Piastri on the main straight, overlooking the McLaren garage and packed with fans who had cheered as he exited the pit lane, fell silent in an instant. Pole position will be taken by George Russell, who will start at Albert Park ahead of his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, while Isack Hadjar will put the Red Bull in third.

Nico Hulkenberg also faced difficulties, reaching the grid only with assistance pushing his car into position.

Oscar Piastri’s premature exit from the Australian Grand Prix shows how unforgiving the Albert Park street circuit can be, even at low speeds. With the local favorite sidelined and Nico Hulkenberg also battling technical gremlins before the start, the reliability and focus required for this new 2026 era of racing have already been put to the ultimate test before a single competitive lap has been completed.