- Scotland captain Tuipulotu ruled out of Six Nations
- Amorim's blast exposes depth of Man Utd decline
- Biden pre-emptively pardons Trump foes
- McCullum sees India series as ideal prep for Champions Trophy
- Trump 'triumphs' in Albanian art exhibition
- Marquez eyeing seventh MotoGP crown in Ducati dream team
- UK teen pleads guilty to girls' murder that triggered riots
- Swiatek has 'closure' after WADA says won't appeal in doping case
- Lys says 'nicest week in my life' as historic Melbourne run ends
- Activists slam 'destructive' Indonesia forest conversion plan
- Fire at Belgrade retirement home kills eight
- Qualifier Tien will remember 'surreal' Australian Open forever
- Fashion world in flux for men's week in Paris
- Missing US journalist's mother says new Syria leaders 'determined' to find son
- Indian rapist murderer of doctor sentenced to life in prison: judge
- Low expectations in Beijing ahead of Trump's second coming
- Merciless Swiatek crushes 'lucky loser' Lys to reach Melbourne quarters
- Shelton halts Monfils to set up Australian Open quarter with Sonego
- Bitcoin hits record above $109,000 awaiting Trump
- Israel-Hamas truce holding after first hostage-prisoner swap
- Triumphant Trump set for return to power
- Sonego ends teenage qualifier Tien's Australian Open fairytale
- Marcos denounces 'woke' sex education bill in Catholic Philippines
- Sinner beats heat and broken net to make Australian Open quarters
- Indonesia launches international carbon exchange
- Djokovic row as Sinner, Swiatek eye Australian Open last eight
- Champions League giants scrap for knockout spots
- India's 'digital arrest' scammers stealing savings
- Mug shot, solitary cell for South Korea's President Yoon
- Trade wars, culture wars, and anti-immigration: Trump's big promises
- Thunder bounce back to down struggling Nets
- Young Chinese turn to AI pets for emotional relief
- Allen outguns Jackson as Bills beat Ravens, Eagles sink Rams
- Champions Cup success perfect Six Nations warm-up - France skipper Dupont
- Yamal symbol of rising Barca aiming for Champions League progress
- Asian markets track Wall St and Europe rally after Trump-Xi talks
- Trial into stabbing spree that sparked UK far-right riots to open
- No sweat, no shake as Svitolina cruises into Melbourne quarters
- Late night tears and hugs for released Palestinian prisoners
- Trump vows to end 'American decline' at inauguration eve rally
- TV host issues on-air apology to Djokovic over 'insulting' comments
- 'No matter the faith': east Ukraine marks Epiphany despite war divide
- Straka shakes off nerves to win US PGA American Express
- New 'oligarchy' under fire as elites descend on Davos
- Smile Hair Clinic: Redefining Hair Transplantation in Turkey
- Barkley dashes through the snow as Eagles beat Rams
- Djokovic condemns 'violence' against protesters in Serbia
- Barkley powers through the snow as Eagles beat Rams
- Trump vows 'speed and strength' at inauguration eve rally
- 'Back on track': Trump supporters brave freezing conditions to attend rally
Norris stays hopeful despite Baku qualifying flop
Title-chasing McLaren driver Lando Norris remained hopeful of success on Saturday despite qualifying in a lowly 17th place for Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Briton, knocked out of the first qualifying session for the first time since the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, lost his best lap when he eased off due to a yellow flag, but said he would do his best to limit damage to his championship challenge.
Norris is 62 points behind three-time champion and series leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull with eight races, and three sprint races, remaining with the Dutchman qualifying in sixth place for Sunday's race.
Verstappen has failed to win in six races, but showed improved form in practice and qualifying in Baku after a dismal run of form.
"I'm not expecting a lot from 17th," said Norris.
"But we will put in a good plan tonight and do our best."
He said his lap, interrupted by the yellows, had been "easily good enough" before he "had to back off".
His race engineer Will Joseph said: "Mate I’m sorry" on team radio, suggesting he felt that he could have advised him sooner of the spin by Williams' Alex Albon that led to the yellow flag.
"I hope I’m wrong," said Norris. "And I hope there are plenty of chances to overtake, but I’m not expecting it. It’s a very low downforce track which makes it pretty much impossible for overtaking.
"It’s worse than people think and not easy, but I'll do my best."
Norris's flop effectively rendered redundant any likely use of team orders this weekend to boost his hopes of victory with support from team-mate Oscar Piastri who starts from the front row alongside pole-sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.
Piastri said: "I got a little bit close to the walls on my last lap -- I was just trying to get the most out of it. This track rewards commitment and, last lap in Q3, I knew I had a little less to lose so I just tried to maximise the car.
"It was feeling good all the way through."
Looking ahead to the race, he said: "Following around here is really tough so it's good to get soe clean air. We'll see what I can do. Our race pace is good, but again the Ferraris are not slow."
Behind Piastri, Carlos Sainz will start from third place in the second Ferrari ahead of Sergio Perez of Red Bull, Mercedes' George Russell, Verstappen and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.
C.Amaral--PC