After five years and 110 races, Lando Norris is an F1 race winner; McLaren driver inherited lead under Safety Car but then blew Max Verstappen and rivals away with supreme pace up front; Verstappen left to settle for second, with Charles Leclerc third; Lewis Hamilton a season-best sixth
Lando Norris claimed the first victory of his Formula 1 career in his 110th race as he took full advantage of a timely Safety Car and then emphatically pulled away from Max Verstappen to win the Miami Grand Prix.
Shedding the unwanted record of the most podium finishes without a win in his sixth season of F1, Norris ran only sixth in the race’s opening stages but the decision by McLaren to extend his opening stint proved inspired when the Safety Car was called for a crash for Williams’ Logan Sargeant.
Having already inherited the lead with all those ahead of him having pitted by then – including race leader Verstappen – Norris was then crucially able to keep it by pitting under the Safety Car as his rivals all ran to a reduced speed on the track.
The job was far from over though with 24 laps still to go when the race resumed and with Verstappen, who had appeared set for another comfortable win before then, right on his tail.
But Norris impressively showed no nerves and, instead of having to defend from the world champion, consistently pulled away from the Red Bull in the laps that remained and eventually won by seven seconds.
Lando Norris capitalises on a crash with a pit stop behind the Safety Car after a collision between Logan Sargeant and Kevin Magnussen
Lando Norris pulls away from Max Verstappen at the safety car restart during the Miami GP
Norris, 24, takes McLaren’s first win since Daniel Ricciardo’s in the 2021 Italian GP and just their second in the past 12 years.
“He’s a super popular young man is Lando Norris. He beat both Ferraris and Red Bulls fair and square,” said Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle.
Lando Norris celebrates in style as he crowd surfs and is congratulated by his McLaren team as well as rival drivers
Fighting back tears as his jubilant McLaren team lifted him aloft in the pit lane as wild celebrations commenced, Norris said: “About time! What a race. It’s been a long time coming.
“Finally I’ve managed to do it.
Verstappen had to settle for a distant second having topped all the other sessions in Miami’s Sprint weekend.
Charles Leclerc, who had been overtaken by the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri at the race start, took third ahead of Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz in fourth.
Lewis Hamilton finished in the highest position of his difficult season so far in sixth after a strong race for Mercedes, finishing within 2s of the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez.
Yuki Tsunoda beat the second Mercedes of George Russell to eighth, with Fernando Alonso recovering from his disappointing qualifying to take ninth for Aston Martin.
Alpine finally opened their points account for 2024 with Esteban Ocon in 10th.
More to follow…
Drama on the opening lap in Sergio Perez almost hits Max Verstappen as he locks up at the first corner of the Miami GP
Formula 1 heads to Europe as Imola returns to the calendar following last year’s cancelled race. Watch the Emilia Romagna GP on May 17-19. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
