Piastri sets unwanted F1 record with consecutive DNSs to start season

Oscar Piastri has become the first driver in Formula 1 history to record a 'Did Not Start' (DNS) in the opening two races of a championship season. The McLaren driver's electrical issue in China, following a crash on the way to the grid in Australia, etches his name into the record books for an unfortunate reason, equaling a 57-year team record in the process.

Why it matters:

For a young driver in his second season, starting a year with zero racing laps is a significant setback in building momentum and gathering crucial data. For McLaren, the double DNS in Shanghai—with Lando Norris also failing to start—highlights early-season reliability concerns that can derail championship points and development momentum against fierce competitors like Red Bull and Ferrari.

The details:

• Piastri's DNS in China was caused by an electrical issue within his car's power unit, forcing mechanics to wheel his MCL38 off the grid before the formation lap.
• This followed his crash en route to the grid at his home Australian Grand Prix, meaning he has not officially started a race in 2024.
• Historical Context: He is the first of F1's 782 all-time drivers to have this happen in the season's first two calendar races. The last driver to have consecutive DNSs was McLaren founder Bruce McLaren himself in 1969.
• Team Impact: Teammate Lando Norris also recorded a DNS in China due to a similar, but unrelated, electronics glitch. It was Norris's first DNS in 154 Grand Prix entries.
• This marked McLaren's first double DNS since the controversial 2005 United States Grand Prix and its first consecutive race DNSs since 2017.

What's next:

The focus for McLaren shifts immediately to damage control and understanding the root cause of the power unit electrical gremlins. With the Miami Grand Prix next on the calendar, the team will be under pressure to ensure both cars are not only fast but also reliable. For Piastri, the priority is simply to get a clean start to a race weekend and begin converting the team's promising pace into solid points.