Max Verstappen's early dominance of the Formula One season was interrupted as he was knocked out of qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a mechanical issue.
The reigning world champion was the class of the field two weeks ago in Bahrain, with Red Bull enjoying a significant advantage in pace over their rivals.
But Verstappen will need to work his way through the field at the tight street circuit in Jeddah if he is to prevail at this race for the second successive year.
The Dutchman limped to the pits in the second qualifying session with what appeared to be a driveshaft issue.
His mechanics did not have the requisite time to fix the problem and get him back out for a flying lap, meaning Verstappen will start 15th, unless Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who has a 10-place grid penalty, qualifies no higher than fifth.
There had been no prior indication of a problem in that area of the car, according to Verstappen, who accepts it will now be difficult for him to replicate his 2022 victory.
"No, it's the first time I heard about it [the problem] as well," he said. "Coming out of turn 10 it happened. It will be a bit more tricky to get to the front. Anything is possible at this track, it's going to be tough."
Bagnaia praises new Ducati after claiming MotoGP win in Portugal
Francesco Bagnaia praised his new Ducati bike, saying it suits his riding style as he clinched victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday.
On the first race weekend of the new MotoGP season, Bagnaia won the inaugural sprint race on Saturday, before also taking first place a day later.
The defending world champion finished ahead of Maverick Vinales and fellow Italian Marco Bezzecchi, and expressed his delight with his new bike at the post-race press conference.
"We worked so well on the tests that everything was prepared for the race, we were so on the limit," he said. "Compare that to two years ago and last year, the race time was so much faster.
"It was quite tough, the tyres were working so perfectly... I'm happy, everything went perfectly. This new bike suits very well my riding style, better than the old one, so we are fighting in a good direction."
Bezzecchi was surprised with his third-place finish to begin his second season after being the best rookie in MotoGP last year with 111 points, more than the other four rookie riders combined (Fabio Di Giannantonio: 24; Raul Fernandez: 14; Remy Gardner: 13 and Darryn Binder: 12).
"I am very happy. It's always nice to have some good results," the 24-year-old said. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting this because it's a track where I've never been so fast in Moto2 or in the previous year. Also, last year I was very slow, but this year I made a step and I'm very happy.
"The race was fantastic. I was able to escape the group behind me, and I was trying to catch Maverick but he was a little bit faster than me, especially at the end. But this gave me the possibility to escape, to have a good gap, and finally to get this podium."
Spaniard Vinales held on for second place, and is optimistic of competing at the front again in next week's Argentinian Grand Prix.
"I've been quite fast in Argentina for all the years," he said. "I don't know, I don't want to put anything on my head. I will go there, do the job, take out the maximum of the bike and then we will see.
"What I am sure of is that if we can get the maximum from the weekend, we will be fighting at the front."
Bagnaia completes Portimao double after Marquez crashes out
Francesco Bagnaia made it a perfect start to the MotoGP season by winning the Portuguese Grand Prix after Marc Marquez crashed out.
Bagnaia was victorious in the inaugural MotoGP sprint race on Saturday and the reigning champion crossed the line first again in Portimao a day later.
The Ducati rider started in second place behind Marquez, but the Spaniard's race came to an early end when he lost control and collided with Miguel Oliveira.
Oliveira had taken an early lead after starting in fourth place on home soil, but Marquez's mistake left him heading for the medical tent for a check-up after he was sent flying off his bike at Turn 3.
It was subsequently confirmed six-time world champion Marquez had suffered a fractured first metacarpal bone in his right hand.
Italian Bagnaia took over at the front on lap two following moves on Oliveira and Jorge Martin, then went on to complete a double ahead of Maverick Vinales.
Marco Bezzecchi joined his compatriot Bagnaia on the podium by taking third place, with Johann Zarco nipping in to take fourth in the closing stages ahead of Alex Marquez.
Martin crashed out with five laps to go at Turn 2 as Bagnaia took command and made it a dream start to the defence of his title.
Piquet punished for racist and homophobic slurs aimed at Hamilton as Brazilian lands £780,000 court fine
Brazilian motor racing great Nelson Piquet has been fined around £780,000 for making racist and homophobic comments about seven-time Formula One drivers' champion Lewis Hamilton.
A judge in Brasilia imposed the punishment "for collective moral damages" and it was announced the money would go towards promoting racial equality and fighting LGBTQIA+ discrimination.
It was alleged by campaign groups behind the action that Piquet made comments in a November 2021 interview on YouTube that "violated the diffuse fundamental right to honour of the black population and the LGBTQIA+ community", and that those remarks, directed at Hamilton, went beyond the limits of freedom of expression.
In a statement confirming the punishment for 70-year-old Piquet, who won Formula One titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987, it was said that he denied intending "to harm Hamilton or anyone else's honour".
However, the judge said the discriminatory content was verifiable and determined Piquet's use of the term 'neguinho', which translates as 'little black man', was used when the former driver was being critical of Hamilton.
It was ruled that: "The nuances of language cannot go unnoticed, as subtlety is one of the characteristics of contemporary Brazilian racism: the subjugating element is present, the neguinho is not just any person, he is not a young black man, it is not an affectionate nickname, it is [saying] that the black person is doing something wrong, that he is an inferior race.
"In this context, it is easy to see that the use of the term neguinho by the defendant, a white person, to refer to the black English driver is a conduct that is discriminatory and with harmful meaning".
The judge determined Piquet had also used homophobic language when referring to Hamilton, implying that "being gay would be a negative characteristic, because it means incompetence".
The ruling and fine of five million Brazilian Reals is a punishment that Piquet is entitled to appeal against.
At the time of Piquet's remarks coming to light last June, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone declared Hamilton should be "happy" he received an apology and ought to have "brushed aside" the Brazilian’s racist slur.
Hamilton responded by referencing Ecclestone and Piquet as "older voices", declaring they have "nothing positive" to contribute.
"We push for action. There needs to be some accountability," Hamilton said.
He added: "I have always tried to take the higher road and be respectful. It ties back to – why do we give them a platform? They are not with the times. They are not willing to change. Microaggression in today's world is not healthy."
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