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McLaren is looking to turn their disappointing start to the season around at the Japanese Grand Prix. The team, led by Lando Norris, has faced significant challenges with their new car, struggling to match the pace of Mercedes and Ferrari.After Mercedes dominated the opening two rounds, McLaren found themselves third fastest but a significant distance off the pace. The team acknowledged they had work to do on the aerodynamic side of the chassis and on understanding how best to exploit their new engines under the power management rules.Lando Norris remains optimistic about McLaren's chances, despite the difficult start. 'I believe we can get close but I also know how good Mercedes are,' he said. 'They've obviously got on the right track early and have understood the car better than we have been able to do.'Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, has shown promise in practice sessions, setting a strong pace in the afternoon session at Suzuka. The team is hopeful that they can capitalize on Ferrari's struggles with power deployment on the demanding figure-of-eight circuit.The Japanese Grand Prix represents another test for F1's new rules on energy recovery, which will play a key role in how the drivers approach a lap. Suzuka is a much-loved drivers' circuit that combines a requirement for inch-perfect judgment with a reward for pushing to the limit.

Renowned Formula One journalist Giles Richards was ejected from a Max Verstappen press conference at the Japanese Grand Prix, a rare occurrence in the sport. The incident stemmed from a question Richards asked Verstappen at the end of last season regarding an incident involving Verstappen and George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.Verstappen had collided with Russell's car during the Spanish Grand Prix, resulting in a 10-second penalty that dropped him from fifth to 10th place and cost him nine points. When Richards asked Verstappen about the incident during the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen took umbrage, suggesting Richards was biased and only focused on negative aspects of his performance.Richards recounts that when he encountered Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Dutch driver refused to speak until Richards left the press conference. Despite attempts to clarify the situation, Verstappen remained resolute, telling Richards to 'get out'.The incident has sparked a heated debate about driver-journalist interactions in Formula One, with many colleagues expressing shock and concern for Richards' wellbeing. While Richards admits to feeling uncomfortable about being the story, he emphasizes the importance of asking difficult questions in his line of work.Richards has covered Formula One for over a decade and has interviewed Verstappen on multiple occasions, describing their interactions as generally friendly and good-humored. He hopes that he and Verstappen can have a better relationship in the future.

Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia dominated the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, securing his fourth consecutive win and taking the lead in the championship standings.Starting from the second position on the grid, the 27-year-old Italian rider quickly seized the lead and maintained it throughout the race, marking his second win of the year after triumphing at the Thailand Grand Prix earlier in the month.The race saw track degradation concerns and scorching temperatures, prompting a reduction in the race distance from 31 laps to 23, announced just before the start. Bezzecchi's teammate, Jorge Martin, finished second, while VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio secured third place, holding off defending champion Marc Marquez.Bezzecchi attributed his victory to adjustments made to his riding style and the efforts of his team, who worked tirelessly to improve the bike's performance after a challenging Friday practice session. He dedicated the win to his friend Roberto Lunadei, a mechanic who passed away in a road traffic accident the previous week.With this victory, Bezzecchi now leads the championship standings by 11 points over KTM's Pedro Acosta. The MotoGP action will shift to the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, scheduled for March 27-29.