McLaren boss rues 'frustrating' Chinese GP as both Norris and Piastri fail to start

[p]World champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] were left kicking their heels in the pit lane because of issues before the start at the Shanghai International Circuit.[/p][p]It compounded an awful start to the season for constructors' world champions McLaren.[/p][p][b]"We came here to go racing, and today we were not in condition to do so because of technical problems,"[/b] Stella told [i]Sky F1[/i].[/p][p][b]"This is very frustrating and disappointing for the team, for the drivers, for our technical and commercial partners, and obviously for our fans.[/b][/p][p][b]"So we are sorry for that. We will regroup. We will understand these technical problems, and we will go again in Japan."[/b][/p][embed guid="5c405766-378c-4255-8904-3c0e184f3de8" url="https://x.com/McLarenF1/status/2033107411318219129?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Norris was unable to leave the garage for a run to the starting grid.[/p][p][b]"Once we were preparing the car of Lando to leave the garage, we found a problem on the electrical side of the power unit,"[/b] explained Stella.[/p][p][b]"We tried to fix it, but actually, there was no way to fix it."[/b][/p][p]Piastri did make it to the grid but was pushed back into the garage a few minutes later.[/p][p][b]"We found another problem on the electrical side of the power unit on Oscar's car,"[/b] said Stella.[/p][p][b]"They seem to be different problems, and they were basically meaning that there was no way to start the race."[/b][/p][p]Britain's Norris, who came fifth in the season-opening race in Melbourne, told [i]Sky Sports[/i]: [b]"Just frustrating.[/b][/p][p]"It is on the PU (power unit) side, so the guys tried as hard as they could to get things sorted, but they were unable to.[/p][p][b]"My first DNS (did not start) in F1, tough to take, but that is racing sometimes."[/b][/p][p]Williams' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albon-alexander/OEbwYC7k/"]Alexander Albon[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bortoleto-gabriel/8zwcIVil/"]Gabriel Bortoleto[/a] of Audi also failed to start.[/p][p]Last weekend, only one McLaren took part in the opening race after Piastri crashed on his way to the grid in Melbourne, meaning the Australian is yet to race in a grand prix this season.[/p]