McLaren Launches Investigation After Norris and Piastri Unable to Start F1’s Chinese Grand Prix

Mechanics work on the car of McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri during the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on March 15, 2026. (AFP)

11:24-15 March 2026 AD ـ 27 Ramadan 1447 AH

Mechanics work on the car of McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri during the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on March 15, 2026. (AFP)

McLaren has launched an investigation with engine supplier Mercedes to investigate why both of its cars suffered terminal electrical faults that ruled them out of the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, as Formula 1 champion Lando Norris said the team must rule out a repeat.

Norris was stuck waiting in his car in McLaren's garage before time ran out for him to join the grid, and teammate Oscar Piastri had to be withdrawn from the grid minutes before the start with what McLaren termed separate electrical problems with its Mercedes-supplied power unit.

It was the first time in Norris' eight-season F1 career that he has missed a race and Piastri's second missed race in a row after crashing on his way to the grid at his home race in Australia.

“We just have to take it on the chin, learn what the problem was, and make sure it never happens again,” Norris said. “Everyone in the team is frustrated, our engineers, mechanics and HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains) teammates. All of us want to go racing and score points.”

McLaren said a “joint investigation” with Mercedes' HPP engine operation would be launched.

McLaren has so far failed to match the pace of the works Mercedes team, whose drivers have won both Grand Prix races and the sole sprint race under the new 2026 regulations, which put more emphasis on electrical power. McLaren has previously said it's concerned with what it considers a lack of information on how to get the best out of the Mercedes systems.

Four cars in total failed to start Sunday, including Gabriel Bortoleto's Audi and the Mercedes-powered Williams of Alex Albon, which had a hydraulic-system failure.

There are also concerns at Aston Martin after a double retirement for the reliability-plagued team. Lance Stroll's race ended early with a battery failure, a repeat issue with its Honda power unit. Aston Martin said “discomfort from vibrations” forced Fernando Alonso to stop.

Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey this month said his car was shaking so much it risked “permanent nerve damage” in its drivers' hands without major improvements.

Courtois Given Green Light to Skip Belgium’s Nations League Campaign, Reports Say

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois gestures after recovering from an injury during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 8, 2026. (AFP)

09:49-9 September 2026 AD ـ 27 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Courtois Given Green Light to Skip Belgium’s Nations League Campaign, Reports Say

Goalkeeper Thibaut ‌Courtois will sit out Belgium’s Nations League campaign but has not retired from international football, Belgian media reported on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old had said after the World Cup that he may stop playing for Belgium or seek a ‌rest this ‌season, skipping the Nations ‌League ⁠where Belgium are ⁠grouped with France, Italy, Türkiye and play six matches over the next three months.

He told reporters after Real Madrid's 2-1 win over ⁠Inter Milan in the ‌Champions League ‌on Tuesday that new Belgium coach ‌Mark van Bommel understands his ‌decision.

"I will remain available for the European Championship qualifying campaign with the national team, and I ‌understand that I will have to fight for ⁠my ⁠place just like the other goalkeepers," he told Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws.

“Physically, I don't know if I can maintain the same schedule for another four years."

The first qualifiers for the 2028 European Championship are scheduled for March next year.

Sports

Alcaraz Falls to Shelton in Epic Latest-Ever US Open Finish

Ben Shelton, of the United States, celebrates after winning against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in the quarter-final round of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. (AP)

09:34-9 September 2026 AD ـ 27 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Alcaraz Falls to Shelton in Epic Latest-Ever US Open Finish

Carlos Alcaraz tumbled out of the US Open quarter-finals at 3:34 am Wednesday, falling to Ben Shelton in an epic five-set thriller that broke the record for latest finish ever at Flushing Meadows.

The big-hitting American claimed his first career win over Alcaraz, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/7), ending the Spaniard's hopes of retaining his title in his first tournament back after a four-month injury absence.

It took a brutal four hours and 28 minutes, finishing long past the previous latest finish in New York of 2:50 am -- Alcaraz's five-set quarter-final win over Jannik Sinner in 2022.

Shelton matches his semi-final run at the US Open three years ago and booked an all-American semi-final against Frances Tiafoe, who came back from two sets down to beat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10/6).

"That was a war, epic match, so physical," Shelton said. "Carlos is one of the greatest champions in our sport already at 23 years old.

"It's always fun being on the court against him. It's ridiculous some of the stuff he comes up with sometimes -- the most enjoyable match that I've had in my career, for sure."

Alcaraz had gone from strength to strength through his first four matches, but Shelton posed his biggest test and finally proved too much.

Shelton, pumped up by the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, reeled off nine straight games bridging the second and third sets to seize control, capitalizing on Alcaraz's flagging serve and getting the better of him in rallies that left him winded.

Alcaraz stopped the rot, mustering a break chance as Shelton served for the third set before the American closed it out.

It was a sign that Alcaraz was far from a spent force, and he roared back to take the fourth set in just 36 minutes.

The margins in the fifth set were razor thin. Alcaraz had a break chance at 2-2, then it was Shelton's turn at 4-3, but the match was destined to go all the way, to a 10-point match tiebreak that Shelton capped with an ace on match point.

After the first three matches of the day all went the distance, Alcaraz and Shelton didn't get under way until after 11 pm -- and both exploded out of the gate.

Neither man faced a break point through the first 10 games, although Alcaraz came under some self-inflicted pressure with back-to-back double faults that made for a complicated hold for 4-4.

- Shelton dialed in -

Alcaraz put together his first love hold for 5-5 then grabbed the first break in the next game, forcing a forehand error from Shelton as the American was feeling the pressure at 0-40 down.

That left the Spaniard to serve for the set, but two errors to start the game were all the opening Shelton needed.

He broke to force the tiebreaker and seized a 5-3 lead only for Alcaraz to win the last four points and pocket the set after 61 minutes.

But Alcaraz couldn't maintain the pace and as his struggles on serve increased Shelton roared away, two of his three service breaks coming courtesy of double faults from the Spaniard, including one on set point.

"I knew that my serve was only going to get better, and if I had already dialed in the return to the point that I could break him, I thought my chances were good to get that second set," Shelton said. "Once I got rolling the second set, broke him three times in that set, it was a lot easier to just play and swing more freely."

Sports

Pegula Outlasts Navarro to Set US Open Semi with Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula is through to the US Open semi-finals after a victory over fellow American Emma Navarro. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Asharq Al Awsat

07:53-9 September 2026 AD ـ 27 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

07:53-9 September 2026 AD ـ 27 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH

Pegula Outlasts Navarro to Set US Open Semi with Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula is through to the US Open semi-finals after a victory over fellow American Emma Navarro. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Jessica Pegula booked a third straight US Open showdown with Aryna Sabalenka, grinding out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Emma Navarro on Tuesday to set a semi-final clash with the two-time defending champion.

Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 final in Flushing Meadows and beat her again in the semis last year on the way to a second crown. AFP said.

Third-seeded Pegula needed two hours and 20 minutes to get past Navarro, recovering an early break in the third set of a tense baseline battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"It was really tough," Pegula said after a match featuring nine breaks of serve. "It was physical, humid. I wasn't exactly serving my best and I was fighting a lot of demons out there today."

Pegula improved to 5-0 against Navarro, a former world number eight who is on the rise after an extended break to focus on health issues, winning her first title in more than a year at Strasbourg in May.

Pegula, who has won two titles this year, is among the trio of players who arrived at Flushing Meadows with a chance to supplant Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York.

The 32-year-old would have to go all the way to a first major title to have a shot at claiming the top spot.

But the number one issue could be moot by the time Pegula and Sabalenka square off on Thursday.

Second-ranked Elena Rybakina can seize the top spot regardless of other results with a win over China's Zheng Qinwen in their quarter-final on Wednesday.

McLaren Launches Investigation After Norris and Piastri Unable to Start F1’s Chinese Grand Prix

Most Viewed

Courtois Given Green Light to Skip Belgium’s Nations League Campaign, Reports Say

Alcaraz Falls to Shelton in Epic Latest-Ever US Open Finish

Pegula Outlasts Navarro to Set US Open Semi with Sabalenka

لم تشترك بعد