McLaren faces a challenging start to their championship defense in 2026, with both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris experiencing setbacks. In a dramatic turn of events at the Chinese Grand Prix, neither McLaren driver was able to start the race. This marked the first time both McLaren cars failed to start a grand prix since the 2005 US GP. Looking back to 1966, McLaren’s struggles with reliability issues before race starts are reminiscent of the current situation.
Back in 1966, McLaren faced engine troubles with unsuccessful attempts to use Serenissima’s 3-litre V12. Now, in 2026, McLaren is putting its faith in Mercedes-Benz High Performance Powertrains. Team principal Andrea Stella expressed frustration over the recent electrical faults that prevented both cars from participating in China. While Piastri’s battery issue was fixable, Norris’s car suffered irreparable damage due to a software problem.
Stella emphasized McLaren’s trust in HPP to rectify the issues and ensure a smooth race weekend in Japan. The team is eager to move past the setbacks and provide opportunities for their drivers to shine on the track. As McLaren looks ahead to future races, they are hopeful for a more consistent and trouble-free performance to break the streak of unfortunate incidents.
