Both McLarens out of Chinese GP before the start

Formula One world champion Lando Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday due to car problems.

Champions McLaren discovered an electronics issue with Norris’s car before it was due to head out on track while Australian Piastri’s car was then pushed off the grid and back to the garage.

Mechanics removed the floor on Norris’s car, with the team still working to resolve the problem as the grid closed for the second race of the season.

The Briton had qualified sixth, with Piastri fifth but both grid positions were left empty.

“We also identified an issue on Oscar’s car, which means we were unable to start the car from the grid,” said a team spokesman.

“We have now returned the car to the garage to further investigate the issue there.”

Piastri won in China last year from pole position.

The Williams of Alex Albon suffered a hydraulics problem on the way to the grid while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto also failed to start, leaving 18 cars on the grid.

Mercedes locked out the front row with 19-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli the youngest ever grand prix polesitter ahead of championship-leading teammate George Russell.