Lando Norris of McLaren seized an opportune moment to secure his maiden Formula One victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, fending off the challenge from Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen.
For Norris, the win was a long-awaited breakthrough, marking his first triumph in Formula One after enduring 15 podium finishes without a victory and finishing as runner-up on eight occasions in 110 grand prix races.
Verstappen appeared poised to extend his dominance with a potential fifth win in six races until a mid-race crash altered the dynamics, allowing McLaren to capitalize on a safety car period. Norris strategically pitted and emerged from the pits in the lead position.
Despite Verstappen’s relentless pursuit on the restart, Norris maintained his composure and pulled ahead, securing a memorable victory for McLaren.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc clinched third place on the podium, with teammate Carlos Sainz initially finishing fourth but later penalized for a collision with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, relegating him to fifth.
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez benefited from the penalty, advancing to fourth place.
Norris’s triumph was warmly received by fans and fellow drivers alike, as he was mobbed by his team upon entering the pit lane and cheered by the massive crowd at the Miami International Autodrome, which included former U.S. president Donald Trump.
Verstappen’s second-place finish had little impact on the drivers’ standings, as he maintains a substantial 35-point lead over Perez.
The race saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton secure sixth place, followed by Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in seventh and Mercedes’ George Russell in eighth.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso secured ninth place, while Esteban Ocon earned struggling Alpine their first point of the season by finishing tenth.
Verstappen had initially dominated the race, leading through the first 20 laps, but an uncharacteristic mistake midway through, which led to a collision with a bollard, changed the complexion of the race, ultimately benefiting Norris and McLaren.
Norris capitalized on a stroke of luck during a safety car period, resulting from Williams’ Logan Sargeant’s crash into the wall, enabling him to pit and maintain his lead till the end of the race.
“You win, you lose,” said Verstappen. “I think we’re all used to that in racing, right?
“Today was just a bit tricky. If a bad day is P2, I take it.
“I’m very happy for Lando. It’s been a long time coming and it’s not going to be his last one, so he definitely deserves it today.”
