McLaren thinks that Formula 1’s aborted-start procedures could be tidied up in the wake of the confusion over Lando Norris’s rules breach at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

With Lance Stroll having beached himself in the gravel at Turn 4 following a formation-lap off, F1’s race director decided to abort the start when the cars had formed up on the grid.

In theory, that meant the start was abandoned and the drivers should have waited on the grid for a scheduled restart.

However, pole position man Norris and fellow front row starter George Russell took it as a signal to complete another formation lap – with several cars behind him also following him away.

Other competitors were aware of the rule that they were not supposed to move off, but they were quickly given permission to also go because of the problems that would have been caused by some cars doing extra laps.

After the race, Norris and Russell were both handed a reprimand and fined 5000 euro each for not following the expected procedures.

However, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella thinks that there is some ambiguity in the wording of the rules – especially with the way things played out in Brazil, with the decision to abort the start only being made once the cars had formed up on the grid.

“When you look at the letter of the regulations, it’s a little tricky, because in the extra formation lap, there is talk about delayed [starts], then there is the aborted [start] and it talks about returning to the grid,” he said.

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“So there are some technicalities that may have made the situation a little confusing for Lando. I guess he just reacted to the lights at the time.”

Stella’s mention of the regulations refers to the two different ways that starts will be called off.

Article 46.1 references a “delayed start”, which occurs when the formation lap has not started and the cars are still on the grid.

Then there is an “aborted start”, which happens when the formation lap has started. It references that “all cars should return to the grid and all competitors will be informed of the likely delay using the official messaging system.”

In Brazil, Norris and a majority of other cars were already on the grid when the aborted start message came through.

Stella thinks that it might make sense to clear up the expected procedures to ensure that everyone understands better what to do in repeat scenarios in the future.

“Overall, we think this is a very benign situation,” he said. “If anything, it should give the opportunity to clarify a little bit what to do in these cases because the call came very late, when Lando had been sitting on pole position for a long time.

“If there was an aborted start, I think the conditions were present for a long time to give it. So this confused the driver a bit.”

Davit Alaverdyan, chief editor of Mediamax Media Company in Yerevan, said: “Although the club was founded in 2017, in 2022-23 it was completely transformed with a new owner and management, so in that sense it can really be considered new.

“Such a success is truly unprecedented.”

Former Portugal, Real Madrid and Barcelona star Figo seems an unlikely name to be linked to an Armenian club side but club owner Vardanyan said: “Luis Figo was one of the first to support my vision of building this project.

“He believed in the programme’s success and offered his willingness to assist in key areas. We are friends and often discuss the club’s development, with Figo providing valuable advice.

“We have big plans with Figo, particularly in promoting Noah’s young talents abroad and enhancing the club’s international reputation.”

The club’s sudden rise and a nomadic history to date means their fanbase is still catching up. They have had several different stadiums, in capital Yerevan, plus Armavir and currently Abovyan.

Their European games are being played at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan, and they are building a new stadium in nearby city Echmiatsin.

“Until recently, the team did not have many fans, but success on the international stage has led to the number increasing with each game,” said journalist Alaverdyan.

“A stadium for 20,000 people, as well as a football academy, is being built near Yerevan.”

And the biblical name of the club?

The Old Testament says Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat – which is just over the border in modern Turkey and dominates the Yerevan horizon.

Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion in the fourth century.

“A significant part of Armenia is located in the Ararat Valley, so the themes of Ararat, Noah and his Ark have sacred meaning for Armenians,” said Alaverdyan.

Captain Hovhannes Hambardzumyan is one of their longest serving players, having joined in August 2023.

“Being part of Noah’s project is something special for all of us,” said the 34-year-old Armenia right-back.

“We are not just playing football; we are playing for our nation, our pride, our homeland, and our tricolour flag, striving to elevate the name of Noah in the world of football.”

A limited number of tickets for MotoGP’s new season finale in Barcelona are on sale, with all proceeds set to be donated to the victims of the devastating floods in Valencia.

Ticket prices for what is officially being branded as the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona start at 55.30 euros and go as high as 108.50 euros for the ‘Excellence’ grandstands, according to a statement released by Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

“The event, whose profits will go to those affected by DANA, presents a great diversity of tickets with attractive prices to promote solidarity,” it said.

“The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has already put tickets on sale for the Gran Premio Solidario Motul de Barcelona, ​​which will take place from 15 to 17 November at the Catalan facilities. Tickets can be purchased on the Circuit’s official website and are at very attractive prices to encourage solidarity and donations.”

Barcelona has not officially revealed the number of tickets that have been put on sale. For logistical reasons, with the confirmation of the event arriving just over a week before the start of track action, it’s not possible to make seats available for the same number of spectators as during the Catalan Grand Prix or Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix at the same circuit. Those events are usually able to pull in more than 130,000 fans on Sunday.

Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Accessing the website of the Barcelona circuit, it can be seen that a total of 18,992 tickets are on sale in nine different locations. If the entire lot is sold out, it will bring in revenue of around 1.5 million euro.

Tickets are available for a variety of grandstands as well as the general admission zones known as ‘pelouse’.

The season finale was due to be held at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, as has been a tradition for many years. But the devastation caused by heavy flooding in Valencia forced the authorities to cancel the event just over two weeks ahead of its scheduled date.

After evaluating all possible scenarios, MotoGP’s promoter Dorna concluded that the best option was to race in Barcelona. The decision was taken together with Valencian and Catalan authorities.

The Barcelona GP will decide the 2024 MotoGP champion, with Jorge Martin currently leading the standings by 24 points over Francesco Bagnaia heading into the finale. A total of 37 points will be on offer across the sprint and the main race.

Tickets for the Valencia race will not be valid in Barcelona. Ticket holders for Valencia have the option of request a fund from the circuit from 11 November or transfer the ticket to 2025.

THE SUN brings you a very special evening of darts on December 9 as we look ahead to the 2024/25 World Championship.

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The 2024-25 World Darts Championship will take place from December 15 – January 3 at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi is “fine” after requiring 10 stitches to close a cut on his face, manager Hansi Flick says.

The Spaniard, 17, was forced off in the 67th minute of Barcelona’s 5-2 Champions League win against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday after being caught by Uros Spajic’s studs as he headed a corner clear.

Cubarsi, who made his debut for the club at the age of 16, needed medical attention on the pitch before his substitution after being left with a bloodied face and an open wound.

Flick said after the victory: “He needed stitches, but he’s fine.”

The club later posted a photo of a smiling Cubarsi with the caption: “I’m OK.”