BREAKING: PIASTRI CRASHES OUT ON HIS WAY TO THE GRID AND IS OUT OF THE AUSTRALIAN GP

Oscar Piastri crashed his car on the way to the starting grid just minutes after the pit lane opened.

Piastri left the pit lane with the other drivers to drive around the track and take his place on the grid. But at the exit of Turn 4, he lost control of the car and hit the barriers.

The crash damaged the front wing and the front suspension of his McLaren. Because of the damage, the team could not repair the car in time for the race. This meant Piastri was out of the race before it even began.

Fans in Melbourne were hoping to see the young Australian driver race at his home Grand Prix, but the accident ended his day very early.

For Piastri and the McLaren team, it was a frustrating start to the race weekend in front of the home crowd.