Only 15 cars out of the 22-car grid completed the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, with a total of 7 cars not seeing the chequered flag at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The 2026 F1 Chinese GP saw a first-time race winner and exciting wheel-to-wheel action, making for an exhilarating race. However, the reliability of the 2026 cars continues to be questioned after a myriad of technical issues resulted in 7 drivers not completing the race. 4 drivers even ended their weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit before lights out.
Here is a breakdown of every retirement from the 2026 F1 Chinese GP.
McLaren faced a double DNS in Shanghai due to unrelated terminal electrical faults
McLaren may not appear to have the pace to match Ferrari and Mercedes early on in the weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit; however, both drivers had placed themselves in an optimal position for points and even a potential podium finish during Qualifying on Saturday. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had locked out the third row with a P5 and P6 placement, respectively.
Unfortunately for the Woking outfit, neither car could exit the garage ahead of the Grand Prix start. This marked the team’s first double DNS since 2025.
Norris was left waiting in his MCL40 in the McLaren garage before time ran out for him to join the grid due to a terminal electrical fault. On the other side of the garage, Piastri had made his way to the grid but soon faced a similar but unrelated electrical issue. The Australian driver, hence, had to be escorted back into the McLaren garage before the race started. Due to his early retirement from the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, Piastri has yet to complete a single Grand Prix lap in the 2026 F1 season.
McLaren now stands P3 in the 2026 F1 Constructors’ Championship, 80 points behind current championship leader Mercedes. The Woking outfit has launched an investigation with Mercedes to solve the terminal electrical fault that ruled both drivers out of the 2026 F1 Chinese GP. There will need to be significant improvements made by McLaren to solve its 2026 challengers’ instability and catch up to Mercedes and Ferrari.
Aston Martin faced a double DNF as the power unit issue remains unsolved
Aston Martin entered the 2026 F1 season with high expectations for their 2026 challenger. The 2026 F1 season not only marked one of the biggest technical regulations overhauls in decades, but it also marked the team’s first livery designed by legendary British engineer, Adrian Newey.
However, Aston Martin has yet to have both drivers finish every lap of a Grand Prix in the 2026 F1 season. At the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, Lance Stroll retired the car on lap 10 while teammate Fernando Alonso was escorted back into the garage on lap 33.
Stroll’s early retirement was suspected to be due to a battery-related issue with the Honda power unit. On lap 10 of the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, the Canadian driver triggered the first safety car of the race as his car “switched off” entering Turn 1.
Meanwhile, Alonso retired after 32 laps of the race after being unable to feel his hands and feet due to the excessive vibration of the AMR26. A concern the team has spoken out about since the season opener in Melbourne, where drivers were unable to do more than 25 laps in the car without risking critical nerve damage.
Neither driver seems optimistic ahead of the upcoming race weekend in Japan, with the chances of Aston Martin making significant improvements to the power unit being slim.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s unfortunate 2026 F1 Chinese GP weekend early end
Gabriel Bortoleto’s second visit to the Shanghai International Circuit did not go the way the Brazillian driver had hoped. After placing himself P16 on the grid during Qualifying, he was looking forward to redeeming himself during the race. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old was unable to make his way to the grid due to what the team labelled a “technical issue”.
Audi never released the exact details of Bortoleto’s DNS, continuing the German brand’s trend of being vague and cautious in its media communication. The team has been notably vague on its technical issues, a possible tactic to keep expectations low.
Hydraulic issues faced by Williams’ Alex Albon
Williams claimed their first points of the 2026 F1 season after Carlos Sainz secured a P9 finish in the 2026 F1 Chinese GP. However, a mechanical issue left Alex Albon stuck in the garage and unable to start the race.
Prior to the race, Williams had identified a hydraulic issue on Albon’s FW48. Despite the team’s efforts to fix the issue, it was forced to retire the Thai driver’s car.
Albon had qualified P18 behind Sainz on Saturday, but was issued a pit lane start after the team had broken parc ferme to make changes to his car. It would have marked the Thai driver’s second pit lane start of the 2026 F1 season.
Verstappen’s dreadful race start and eventual retirement
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was one of the first few to express his dislike of the 2026 F1 regulations. His disdain for the new battery-dominated era was only fueled by the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, where he retired early with 11 laps to go.
Verstappen had lined up on the grid with soft tyres, hoping to gain positions upon lights out. The soft tyres did not work as the car lacked grip throughout the 58 laps that he had completed. Despite lining up at P6, with both McLarens out of the race, a frustrating start had Verstappen drop 10 places in the early stages of the race to P16.
On lap 9, Verstappen had switched his soft tyres for hards but continued to struggle extracting pace from the car. This left the Dutchman stuck behind Haas’ Ollie Bearman when he worked his way back up to P6. The Red Bull driver was later forced to retire the car on lap 46.
