03/15/26 02:30:00
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03/15 02:25 CDT McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri unable to start F1's
Chinese Grand Prix
McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri unable to start F1's Chinese Grand Prix
SHANGHAI (AP) --- Formula 1 champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate
Oscar Piastri were both unable to start the Chinese Grand Prix after hitting
technical problems minutes before the race began.
Piastri was due to start fifth and Norris sixth for Sunday's race. Norris was
in his car in the pits but didn't leave for the grid, before Piastri was then
withdrawn from the grid following a radio message which indicated an electrical
issue.
"Unfortunately we identified separate issues on both cars which prevented them
from starting the Chinese GP, with Oscar's being removed from the grid shortly
before the formation lap. We will now work to identify each issue," McLaren
said.
It's the second time Piastri has failed to start in 2026 after he crashed
before the start of last week's race in Australia.
Kimi Antonelli was seeking to convert his record-breaking pole position into a
first career win but will have to stay ahead of his Mercedes teammate George
Russell.
Antonelli became the youngest driver to qualify on pole position for an F1
Grand Prix race Saturday. The 19-year-old Italian starts on the front row
alongside Russell, who recovered from technical problems to post the
second-fastest time.
They're looking to continue Mercedes dominance in F1's new era of regulations
after Russell won last week's Australian Grand Prix and the sprint race in
China on Saturday.
Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari briefly got ahead of Antonelli at the start but the
Italian took the place back soon after.
F1 is racing hours after it announced next month's races in Bahrain and Saudi
Arabia will not go ahead because of the war in the Middle East.
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