• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • SUPERCARS
  • F1
  • MOTOGP
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • GT & ENDURANCE
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • SPEEDWAY
  • JOBS
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • GT & Endurance
  • Karting
  • Bikes
  • Rally
  • Speedway
Home F1

McLaren explains 100kW spike behind Piastri crash

Regulations governing electrical energy deployment that contributed to Oscar Piastri’s Australia Grand Prix crash need to be reviewed, according to McLaren boss Andrea Stella.

Stefan Bartholomaeus
Stefan Bartholomaeus
8 Mar 2026
Stefan Bartholomaeus
//
8 Mar 2026
// F1
A A
0
McLaren explains 100kW spike behind Piastri crash
Oscar Piastri didn't make the start of the Australian Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images

Piastri failed to start his home event after spinning into the concrete wall at the exit of Turn 4 during a reconnaissance lap to the grid.

The 24-year-old explained he was caught out by a 100kW power spike that kicked in as he touched the kerb.

Piastri added that the “most difficult part to take” was that “it’s just a function of how the engines have to work with the rules”.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella gave a detailed explanation of the reasons behind the crash following the race.

“What we observe I think is fundamentally three factors,” he said.

Advertisements

“The cold tyres, therefore when the wheelspin starts, it starts in a very sudden way.

“This compounds with being on a kerb. It’s a kerb that he has used pretty much every single lap. Kerbs don’t make this easier though when the tyres are cold.

“This further compounds with the oscillations [from the kerb] and following the [gear] shift, there’s extra torque, let’s say, that when we look at the behaviour of the power unit, it’s sort of expected to happen like that.

“But it’s not something that you would do unless it’s, which I understand is the case, some requirements that you need to meet in terms of how you deploy your torque

“In testing we might have seen some similar circumstances, but we didn’t have the combination of cold tyres and a kerb which aggravated the fact you may have these inconsistencies from torque deployment in grip limited phases.”

Piastri’s accident followed what appeared a similar incident involving Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli in Free Practice 3 on Saturday while under power at the exit of Turn 2.

Max Verstappen also pointed to the new regulations after his qualifying crash, albeit that occurred under braking for Turn 1.

Stella was cautious on discussing the other crashes without detailed knowledge of their cause, but said the torque deployment needs to be reviewed in the name of safety.

“Certainly, these power units can be quite aggressive when they release all the power,” he said.

“We talk about 1000 horsepower coming all together, and when the tyres may be a little bit on the cold side, or if this power comes in an unpredictable way, like it happened to Oscar, then it can become very tricky.

“I don’t want to be here and saying I have an easy solution, I don’t, but I’m here saying we should look into the regulations.

“The accidents you mentioned, they are kind of not a near miss, they are a very material indication that there’s work to do, so we should do this work as an F1 community.”

Stella also pointed to race starts, the speed differential of cars on track due to battery deployment and overtaking as areas for review following the season opener.

Tags: australiangpmclarenoscar piastri
Speedcafe Network 100 - logo representing the directory of leading suppliers to the motorsport industry in Australia

List your business today!

Simplex Elevators logo: Blue geometric shapes with "SIMPLEX ELEVATORS" in bold black text below.

Simplex Elevators

General Business Services

Founded in 1976, Simplex Elevators is one of Australia’s most trusted independent elevator companies, providing premium lift solutions backed by decades of technical expertise and industry leadership. 100% Australian-owned and operated, we pride ourselves on...

Founded in 1976, Simplex Elevators is one of Australia’s most trusted independent elevator companies, providing premium lift solutions backed by decades of technical expertise and...

Discussion about this post

[postcode_search_form]

Latest from Torquecafe

No more new Corvette C8s: Chevrolet looks ahead to next-gen sports car

03 April 2026

Hyundai’s bold off-road concept previews new ute

02 April 2026

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Warburton’s shock Supercars exit explained

02 April 2026

PODCAST: Ask us anything returns!

31 March 2026

Related Articles

Alpine has quashed rumours it has been sabotaging Franco Colapinto during the 2026 season. Image: XPB Images

Alpine shuts down Colapinto sabotage claims

F1
19 minutes ago
F1
0
Lance Stroll will make his GT3 debut next weekend in France. Image: XPB Images

Lance Stroll set for surprise GT3 debut

F1
12 hours ago
F1
0
ADVERTISEMENT

Platinum Partners

Latest & Trending News

Alpine has quashed rumours it has been sabotaging Franco Colapinto during the 2026 season. Image: XPB Images

Alpine shuts down Colapinto sabotage claims

F1
3 April 2026
F1
0
The #118 BMW of Cameron Crick and Dean Campbell at the Bathurst 6 Hour.

Supercars star drafted in last-minute Bathurst 6 Hour substitution

Bathurst 6 Hour
3 April 2026
Bathurst 6 Hour
0
V8 Supercars driver David Reynolds wearing a helmet

Where Team 18 stands on Reynolds future

Supercars
3 April 2026
Supercars
0
Lance Stroll will make his GT3 debut next weekend in France. Image: XPB Images

Lance Stroll set for surprise GT3 debut

F1
2 April 2026
F1
0

PODCAST: Warburton’s shock Supercars exit explained

Podcasts
2 April 2026
Podcasts
0
James Warburton. Image: InSyde Media

The stand-off behind sudden James Warburton exit

Supercars
2 April 2026
Supercars
0

Supercheap Auto

Pirtek Poll

POLL: Are Formula 1’s 2026 regulations dangerous?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls
2026 Supercars Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Brodie Kostecki
Shell V-Power Racing Team
17 3 1 485
2
Cam Waters
Monster Castrol Racing
6 0 0 457
3
Broc Feeney
Red Bull Ampol Racing
88 3 2 442
4
Matthew Payne
Penrite Racing
19 0 0 412
5
Anton De Pasquale
DEWALT Racing
18 1 1 354
2026 Formula 1 Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
12 2 2 72
2
George Russell
Mercedes
63 1 1 63
3
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
16 0 0 49
4
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
44 0 0 41
5
Lando Norris
McLaren
1 0 0 25
ADVERTISEMENT
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates KTM FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions bathurst
Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.

Copyright © 2026 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team /  Advertise with us / Comments Policy / Privacy Policy /

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

[mailpoet_form id=”28″]