McLaren leads Red Bull in the Formula One constructors’ race. It is now up to Lando Norris to put pressure on Max Verstappen for the driver’s title.

Oscar Piastri’s victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last week propelled McLaren to the top of the teams’ rankings — the key to F1’s lucrative prize money — but teammate Norris only cut into Verstappen’s lead.

Norris overcame Verstappen late in the race to finish fourth, but the Dutch driver leads by 59 points going into the Singapore Grand Prix.

This week in F1, the spotlight has been on McLaren’s seemingly flexible rear wing, which could aid at high speeds. Piastri stated Thursday that it is lawful and not a “magic bullet” for their current success.

McLaren And Lando Norris Seek To Pressure Red Bull In F1’S Singapore Grand Prix

F1 looks wide open right now, with Ferrari and Mercedes both vying for victories. McLaren will still have to fight hard even if Red Bull isn’t in front on a track where Verstappen has never won.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fastest in Friday’s first practice, albeit only by 076 seconds over Norris. Carlos Sainz Jr. was third fastest in the other Ferrari, with Verstappen fourth.

In the second practice, Norris edged Leclerc by 058 seconds, ahead of Sainz, in a session that finished with George Russell sliding his Mercedes into a barrier. Verstappen was only 15th fastest, citing a lack of grip in low-speed bends.

Last year, Red Bull failed to win at only one track: Singapore. The team was unable to establish a competitive setup, and Verstappen remained significantly off the speed throughout the weekend, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. claimed victory.

Red Bull left Azerbaijan with the hope that it had resolved at least some of the balancing issues caused by its attempts to enhance the car this season. Verstappen, who has now gone seven races without a win, was dissatisfied with the car in Baku but emphasised that it was down to a poor configuration choice more than underlying performance.

However, Singapore is slower than Baku and presents a more difficult circuit for Red Bull.

“Our car is generally not very good on bumps and curbs, which is obviously what you have around here, so we need to try to stabilise that a little,” Verstappen said Thursday in Singapore.

Street circuits suit Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez, who has been quick in Baku in search of a podium result since April. However, colliding with Sainz meant that all of those efforts were in vain.

After Singapore, Red Bull and its second-team RB are anticipated to decide whether to keep Daniel Ricciardo as RB or recall Liam Lawson. Ricciardo stated that “decisions will be made” before the next race in Austin, Texas, on October 20.

Hamilton’s Criticism
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s attempts to reduce cursing have caused the latest feud between drivers and the regulatory body.

Ben Sulayem’s unfavourable reference to “rap music” attracted condemnation from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, F1’s sole Black driver. He stated that Ben Sulayem’s “stereotypical” language contained a “racial element.”

McLaren And Lando Norris Seek To Pressure Red Bull In F1’S Singapore Grand Prix

While Hamilton believed there was probably too much swearing in F1, Verstappen suggested that TV should be more conscientious about which radio clips are aired. “That will help a lot more than putting bans on drivers,” he told me. Verstappen was reprimanded on Friday for using an obscenity at a broadcast news conference the day before.

Sweat it out.
The heat and humidity of Singapore’s street circuit make it one of the most challenging events of the year for drivers. Even their water can get extremely heated, making it difficult to drink.

Mercedes driver George Russell revealed that he began specific training at the mid-season break a month ago, going for a run in three layers of clothing to mimic racing in fireproof dungarees in the Singapore heat.

“We lose almost four kilogrammes (8 pounds, 13 ounces) of fluids in in an hour-and-a-half race, so it’s a pretty good weight loss program if that’s what you’re chasing,” Russell told me on Thursday.

SOURCE | AP

Los Angeles — Shohei Ohtani continues to demonstrate a flare for the dramatic during his historic first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Japanese superstar became the only player in big league history to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, while also setting several records.

On Thursday in Miami, Ohtani had his first three-homer game of his career, all after the sixth inning, as well as his first six-hit game and a franchise and career-high ten RBIs. Nobody in MLB history has done it before.

He concluded the night with 51 home runs and 51 steals.

Ohtani Keeps Showing A Flair For The Dramatic During His Historic 1st Season With The Dodgers

“Going for a home run is not the ideal way for me to hit a home run, so I try to focus on quality at-bats,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

He also stole two bases and nearly hit for the cycle. Still, he was thrown out at third while attempting to extend his second double into a triple, demonstrating his unusual combination of speed and power.

Ohtani returns to Dodger Stadium on Friday to face the Colorado Rockies. His previous career highs were 46 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 2021 when he earned the first of two American League Most Valuable Player awards with the Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani appears to be limitless.

On August 23, he hit a ninth-inning grand slam against Tampa Bay in his 126th game, becoming the fastest player to reach 40-40.

He has nine games remaining to see what else he can achieve during the regular season.

With a 20-4 victory over the Marlins, the Dodgers secured their 12th consecutive postseason berth. It’s not new for them, but it is for Ohtani. He has played 865 games without making a postseason appearance, the most of any current player.

Ohtani made it obvious when he signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last December that contending for a championship motivates him.

“The No. 1 goal is to get to the postseason and win the World Series,” he stated last month.

During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, they never made the playoffs or had a winning season.

The Dodgers, who lead the NL West, are trying for their 11th division title in 12 seasons.

Ohtani’s incredible exploits come during a season in which his closest buddy abandoned him, and he is not pitching while recovering from elbow surgery last winter.

He skipped the Home Run Derby during All-Star weekend in July to avoid further injury, but as a designated hitter, he hit a three-run homer in the National League’s loss.

Not pitching has kept Ohtani’s arms and legs fresher and faster, allowing him to concentrate and improve on other aspects of his game. He’s polished his running and stealing skills, understanding how to get strong jumps off opposition pitchers by reviewing videos of their habits.

Ohtani Keeps Showing A Flair For The Dramatic During His Historic 1st Season With The Dodgers

Dodgers fans could be seeing a once-in-a-generation aspect of Ohtani’s game. When he starts pitching every five days next year, his legs may not allow him to steal as many bases.

The Ohtani effect is also noticeable off the pitch.

Fans formed mobs in and around Dodger Stadium during his two bobblehead giveaways. Ohtani’s final promotion is on Saturday when the first 40,000 fans will receive T-shirts depicting his likeness.

Japanese tourists come to the stadium for tours, so the team has added extra Japanese-speaking advisors. The squad has also signed several Japanese sponsors.

“He’s one of one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

SOURCE | AP

Indianapolis — The Clark & Reese Show’s first year has been unlike any other in WNBA history.

The playoffs begin on Sunday, so this season’s last chapter remains unscheduled. However, the rookie seasons and attention Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have received make the league’s prospects exceedingly promising beyond this season.

Sold-out stadia became the norm. Soaring television ratings helped to grow the fan base. Clark, Reese, likely league MVP A’ja Wilson, and others were always chasing record-breaking numbers. Routine chats and social media posts sparked intense debates on topics ranging from basketball to culture.

“Watching the basketball that’s been played this season and the talent that’s been on the floor across the league, it’s been phenomenal,” Chicago Sky veteran Lindsay Allen stated. “The two rookies, Caitlin and Angel – Angel has been a game changer for us, setting records. The basketball has been at a very high level, as has the interest.

Caitlin Clark And Angel Reese Change The WNBA’s Landscape, And Its Future

It’s tough to overlook how far the sport has come since Clark, Reese, and perhaps the best rookie class in league history arrived in April. The league’s timing was also right.

Clark and Reese added their swagger, confidence, and enthusiasm to a rivalry that enthralled college basketball fans. That momentum carried over into the pros and raised the profile of everyone in the league.

And, while everyone tried to manage the elevated expectations, Clark and Reese, in particular, outperformed them.

The Indiana Fever guard holds rookie records in scoring (761), 3-pointers (120), and All-Star Game assists (10). She set league single-game (19) and single-season records for assists (329), becoming the first rookie to ever record a triple-double. She now believes the playoffs hold the potential for a title run.

“Once we get there, I think it’ll feel a little more real, and, obviously, we’re not just happy to be there,” said Clark, who helped Indiana snap the second-longest postseason drought in league history, which lasted seven years. “We believe we can compete with every team that will be in the playoffs. Obviously, the only team we didn’t beat this year was the (Las Vegas) Aces, and I believe we’d meet them in the Finals.”

Reese was just as efficient, if not more so, during her stellar season.

Chicago’s rookie forward set new league records for single-season rebounds (446), offensive rebounds (172), and overall rebounding average (13.1). Reese’s single-season rebound record did not last long, as Wilson shattered it while Reese was sidelined with a season-ending injury.

Reese became the first rookie to have an All-Star Game double-double, as well as the first WNBA player to have 20 or more rebounds in consecutive games, with 24 double-doubles breaking the league’s rookie record.

The one big disappointment has been Reese’s wrist injury, which curtailed his season after 34 games, perhaps keeping the Sky out of the playoffs and jeopardizing his Rookie of the Year prospects.

The Clark-Reese relationship continues to drive fan debates, comparable to the barbershop talks over Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in 1980, when they both played leading roles as rookies.

Clark and Reese’s polarising characters landed them squarely in the middle of debates about everything from hard fouls to technical fouls, as well as cultural topics like sexuality and ethnicity.

But there’s no denying that their presence — and rivalry — paved the way for increased endorsements and fan participation, including children who began wearing the players’ jerseys even before tip-off.

Everyone seems to have a favorite moment, from Clark’s corn maze in northwestern Indiana to Reese’s appearance on a large electronic billboard in Chicago to promote blue jeans, or Wilson and her teammates’ tears of joy streaming down their cheeks as she broke the league’s single-season scoring record at Indiana.

Caitlin Clark And Angel Reese Change The WNBA’s Landscape, And Its Future

“I’ve been in this league long enough to play alongside some amazing players, Hall of Fame players, and this one is no different,” Aces forward Alysha Clark said, wiping her emotions as she sat next to Wilson. “When you have players of this calibre playing now, appreciate it because she won’t be here forever. She’s going to retire and live her life, and people will be amazed at what she’s accomplished, and I’m like, ‘Marvel at it now.'”

Fans of Clark and Reese have similar feelings about the two 22-year-olds, who appear set to be the league’s face for years to come and key members of the 2028 US Olympic Team.

But it’s not just a bright future for the rookies; it’s also a bright future in a league where ticket demand and visibility have skyrocketed as players play in full arenas.

“We’ve seen a lot of people talking about the WNBA and the Fever,” said Indiana guard Lexie Hull. “I think a lot of that comes from people being invested in the college game and then coming over, following the players they like, following the ’W” and it’s fairly incredible.”

SOURCE | AP