17 March 2026PlanetF1RumorDriver Ratings

Coulthard questions driver futures after McLaren's disastrous China DNS

After both McLaren cars failed to start the Chinese GP due to power unit issues, David Coulthard suggested drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could question their futures with the team if its reliability crisis continues, highlighting the severity of the setback.

McLaren's Chinese Grand Prix weekend ended in a humiliating double Did Not Start (DNS), with both cars failing to take the grid due to electrical issues within their Mercedes power units. The catastrophic failure prompted former McLaren driver David Coulthard to question the long-term future of star drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the team, using a stark "light bulb" analogy about their potential departure if the situation doesn't improve.