Untelevised team radio reveals Oscar Piastri’s battery issues before Australian GP crash
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri reported that his battery was “completely empty” moments before his crash at the Australian Grand Prix, according to untelevised team radio.
Piastri had previously told and other outlets that a “not insignificant” 100-kilowatt power surge contributed to his early exit in Melbourne.
The Australian GP marked the first race of the F1 2026 season, where Piastri had qualified fifth. However, he was unable to take his place on the grid after losing control of his MCL40 on the pre-race reconnaissance lap. The car struck the barrier at the exit of Turn 4, destroying the front-right corner and forcing a DNS (Did Not Start).
Speaking after the incident, Piastri acknowledged that “a big element of that was me,” while also referring to an unexpected power surge as he accelerated out of Turn 4.
Untelevised radio transmissions now reveal that Piastri may have been caught off guard by the extra torque. Moments earlier, he had informed his team that his battery was “completely empty.” On the approach to Turn 3 after leaving the pit lane, a McLaren pit wall member requested a routine radio check, with Piastri confirming that his battery levels were low.
The revelations shed new light on the technical challenges that contributed to Piastri’s crash and early exit from the season opener.
Untelevised team radio reveals Oscar Piastri’s battery issues ahead of Australian GP crash
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri reported that his battery was “completely empty” moments before his crash on the reconnaissance lap at the Australian Grand Prix, according to untelevised team radio.
During the approach to Turn 3, Piastri confirmed a routine radio check with his team:
Piastri: “Yeah, radio check. I have no… my battery is completely empty already, so I have no power, but I think it’s OK.”
He then navigated Turn 3 as normal, but touched the exit kerb at Turn 4 and spun into the barrier, destroying the front-right corner of his MCL40. McLaren immediately checked on him over the radio:
McLaren: “Oscar, are you OK?”
Piastri: “Yeah, I’m… I’m fine.”
Race engineer Tom Stallard then instructed Piastri to fully power down the car:
Stallard: “Oscar, just make sure you turn the car fully off before you get out.”
Red Bull driver and four-time world champion Max Verstappen was the first to reach the scene, with his race engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, urging caution as he drove through the debris:
Verstappen: “Oh. Big crash. McLaren.”
Lambiase: “Easy.”
Verstappen himself had also reported battery issues before the race, telling his team that his power pack was “almost empty,” while race winner George Russell experienced a similar issue lining up on the grid.
Speaking after returning to the paddock, Piastri reflected on the incident:
“There is certainly a big element of that that was me. Cold tyres… I’ve used that exit kerb every lap of the weekend, but I didn’t have to on that occasion. At the same time, I had about 100 kilowatts extra power that I didn’t expect, which is not insignificant. Everything was working normally—it’s just the function of how the engines have to work with the rules. That part is difficult to accept.”
He added:
“Just obviously disappointed. A scenario like that just shouldn’t happen… 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—it shouldn’t happen. Just very sorry for everyone that came out and wanted to support me. Clearly not the way I wanted to start the year either.”
The revelations highlight the complex interplay of F1 power unit management, driver technique, and cold tyre conditions that contributed to Piastri’s early exit from the season opener.