McLaren Get Ready to Overtake Red Bull

Formula One F1 - Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy - September 1, 2024 McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Formula One F1 - Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy - September 1, 2024 McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
TT

McLaren Get Ready to Overtake Red Bull

Formula One F1 - Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy - September 1, 2024 McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Formula One F1 - Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy - September 1, 2024 McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

McLaren can go top of the Formula One constructors' standings in Azerbaijan this weekend on a Baku street circuit that has favored champions and leaders Red Bull more than any team in the past.

The British-based team start the final long-haul phase of the season only eight points behind faltering rivals they have outscored by more than that margin in all of their last five races.

Lando Norris, 62 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the drivers' battle, has yet to stand on the podium in Baku while team mate Oscar Piastri, 106 off the lead, finished 11th as a rookie last year.

This time could be different, with McLaren's upgraded car looking quick everywhere, according to Reuters.

The big question will be whether team orders will be applied, should the occasion arise, to boost Norris's chances after a golden opportunity was missed in Monza.

"Our goal is clear. I have every faith in the team to keep working and improving. Now with both championships on the table, we're more determined than ever. I'm proud of the team and can’t wait to see what we can do this weekend," said the Briton.

Once-dominant triple champion Verstappen is on a six-race losing streak and finished only sixth in the most recent round in Italy, won by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The Dutch driver won on the shores of the Caspian Sea in 2022 but Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez has the better record there and is the only driver to have triumphed twice.

"Monza was a tough race and it is our priority to get our form back to where it needs to be," said Verstappen, who has spent time in the factory simulator ahead of the first leg of a double-header with Singapore.

The video player is currently playing an ad.00:16Biden honors NCAA men's basketball champs UConn

"The team has been working hard to improve the issues we have been seeing with the car from the past few races."

In Monza, Verstappen had described his car as an undriveable monster.

While Red Bull have won the last three races in Baku, Leclerc is chasing his fourth successive Azerbaijan GP pole position with his team only 39 points behind Red Bull with eight rounds remaining.

The Ferrari driver, and team mate Carlos Sainz, could be contenders for victory at a tricky circuit that combines fast slipstreaming on the straights with tricky, twisty turns through the old town.

"We have usually been quite competitive here and it is also one of Charles’ favourites. We are on a high following the win in Monza and we are determined to maintain this run of form," said team boss Fred Vasseur.

Mercedes also have reasons to be optimistic, despite difficult recent races in the Netherlands and Italy, as the only team other than Red Bull to have won in Baku.

"We head to Baku aiming for a better performance than we showed in Zandvoort and Monza," said team boss Toto Wolff.

"We have the opportunity to show we have done the necessary learning and made improvements both for this weekend in Azerbaijan and the following week in Singapore."

Kevin Magnussen will be absent from the starting grid, the Haas driver triggering a one race ban for accumulated penalty points.

Ferrari reserve Oliver Bearman, who will be taking the Dane's place next season, stands in -- for the second time this season after replacing appendicitis-stricken Sainz at Ferrari in Melbourne.



Saudi Games 2024 Torch Arrives in NEOM

NEOM Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez received the Saudi Games torch from footballer Salman Al-Faraj - SPA
NEOM Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez received the Saudi Games torch from footballer Salman Al-Faraj - SPA
TT

Saudi Games 2024 Torch Arrives in NEOM

NEOM Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez received the Saudi Games torch from footballer Salman Al-Faraj - SPA
NEOM Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez received the Saudi Games torch from footballer Salman Al-Faraj - SPA

The torch for the third edition of the Saudi Games 2024 arrived in NEOM on Tuesday as part of its promotional tour for the largest national sports event in the Kingdom. The event will be held in Riyadh from October 3 to October 17.
Amid great enthusiasm and a celebratory atmosphere, the torch traveled through the historical site of Bajdah in NEOM.
NEOM Deputy CEO Rayan Fayez received the Saudi Games torch from footballer Salman Al-Faraj, former Saudi national team and Al Hilal player, and current NEOM team member.

Al-Faraj has won the Saudi League eight times, the King's Cup five times, the Saudi Super Cup three times, and the AFC Champions League twice. He also represented Saudi Arabia in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The torch was then carried by the Saudi national padel player Omar Al-Thaqib, champion of the Saudi Games in both 2022 and 2023.
The Saudi Games torch began its journey in Riyadh, traveling through various regions of the Kingdom to embody the spirit of the Saudi Games, based on the values of friendship and peace. The torch carries a deep humanitarian message of peace, love and optimism, encouraging citizens and residents of the Kingdom to participate in this major sporting event.

Meanwhile, governor of the Qassim Region Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz praised the unlimited support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for sports and athletes.
This support has contributed to making the Kinrgdom a global sports destination in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030, according to SPA.

Prince Faisal stressed that the Saudi Games represent an important step in creating a new generation of athletes capable of raising the Kingdom's name high in international arenas. He also appreciated the significant role of Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal in developing the sports sector and achieving remarkable progress in recent years.
Prince Faisal made the remarks as he received the torch of the third Saudi Games at the Prince Sultan Educational Complex School from Abdulaziz Al-Sanani, the former director of the Ministry of Sport branch in the Qassim Region.
At the event, the torch was carried by judo medalist Abdulelah Albali, who won gold in the Gulf Championship in Bahrain, bronze in the Arab Championship in Tunisia, the Jeju International Championship in Korea, and Africa Open Championship in Tunisia as well as silver in the 2023 Saudi Games. He was the Kingdom's champion from 2022 to 2024.