Oscar Piastri admits Australian Grand Prix crash ‘difficult to accept’ in 2026 automobile verdict
Oscar Piastri crashed out of his home Australian Grand Prix on the reconnaissance lap before the race even started – and the McLaren star gave an ominous verdict on the new cars
Piastri has no luck in front of his home fans
Oscar Piastri crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix on the reconnaissance lap before the race even started as the McLaren star started the new season in nightmare fashion.
This year brings a new era in Formula One with cars and regulations undergoing a huge and controversial change. Mercedes have started 2026 the best as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured a 1-2 finish while Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished P3 and P4 respectively, but the same can’t be said for Constructors’ champions McLaren.
Piastri went over a kerb which unsettled the rear of his McLaren before it spun on him over half an hour before the race start. The 24-year-old wrecked his car and was unable to take part in his home race.
Speaking to media outlets in Melbourne following his DNS, Piastri said: “We had a couple of things going on. I think the first part I want to stress is that there is certainly a big element of that was me.
“Cold tyres. I have used that exit kerb every lap of the weekend, but I didn’t have to. At the same time, I had about 100 kilowatts extra power that I didn’t expect, which is not insignificant.
“I think the difficult part to take is everything was working normally. It’s just the function of how the engines have to work with the rules. It’s that part that’s difficult to accept.
“It would almost be easier in some ways if we just said there’s cold tyres and I was optimistic, but when you add in another factor like that it always is more difficult to take.”
Asked about his emotions after failing to make the start in his home race, Piastri continued: “Just obviously disappointed. A scenario like that just shouldn’t happen. It’s obviously very disappointing it did.
“It’s obviously very disappointing. I don’t really have many other words than that. Just very sorry, obviously, for everyone that came out and wanted to support me. It’s clearly not the way I wanted to start the year either.
“Just shock and surprise really [as the incident unfolded]. I was backwards before I even really had a chance to react. It all happened pretty quick.
“Crashing out of the race, trying to get to the race, [shouldn’t happen].”
Reigning world champion Lando Norris didn’t fare as well as McLaren would have hoped following their dominance last season as the Brit finished fifth, but well off the pace of Mercedes and Ferrari.
Speaking about his chances of success having finished third last in the Championship last season, Piastri said: “I think last year, whilst the result wasn’t what I wanted, I felt like there was a lot of positives from the weekend.
“I think this year, obviously the disappointment is even greater but I think up until today, we did a lot of things well.
“We’ve identified some things we need to change and do a better job at. But I think practice in qualifying felt pretty comfortable, as comfortable as you can do in these cars, and I felt like I was building myself into it nicely. That element is not too dissimilar before.”
