McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched his debut Formula 1 win in thrilling style at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, passing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to secure the victory. Starting from sixth position, Norris capitalized on a well-timed Safety Car period during the race, which enabled him to emerge as the leader after the pit stops.
Despite Verstappen’s attempts to apply pressure after the race resumed, Norris remained composed and gradually extended his lead. Verstappen’s struggles with balance also contributed to Norris’s success, marking a significant milestone in his career following a close miss at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix.
Verstappen settled for the runner-up spot despite facing challenges on the track, while Charles Leclerc clinched third place, leading his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. Sainz was involved in a late-race incident with Piastri, resulting in the Australian needing a pit stop to replace his damaged front wing.
Sergio Perez secured fifth place driving the second Red Bull car, opting for an additional pit stop during the Safety Car period. Despite a tough weekend for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell managed to secure crucial points, finishing in sixth and eighth places, respectively. Get the full results of Miami Grand Prix 2024 here.
Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh, contributing to Red Bull’s overall performance, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin crossed the line in ninth place. Esteban Ocon seized tenth place after capitalizing on Piastri’s troubles, securing Alpine their first point of the season and boosting team morale.
Early in the race, Haas appeared to be heading for another top-10 finish, but Nico Hulkenberg’s position gradually slipped, ultimately crossing the line in 11th place behind Pierre Gasly in the Alpine. Despite undergoing a front wing change, Piastri managed to climb back to 13th position, although McLaren warned him against causing another incident that could trigger a Safety Car period as Norris led, overtaking Zhou Guanyu’s Kick Sauber just before the race’s end.
Following a strong showing in the Sprint, Daniel Ricciardo could only secure 15th place in the Grand Prix, followed by Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber) and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin). Stroll’s heated battle with Williams’ Alex Albon led to a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Albon finished 19th, with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas just ahead of him. Magnussen received a 10-second penalty for colliding with Williams’ Logan Sargeant, forcing Sargeant out of the race prematurely. Upon returning to the pits, emotions overflowed for Norris over the radio as he, his race engineer, and team boss Zak Brown celebrated a significant moment, marking McLaren’s first Grand Prix victory since Monza in 2021.
SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT:
“After all this time!” Norris exclaimed with a grin. “What a race it was. It’s been a journey to get here, but I’ve finally made it. I’m thrilled for my team; I’ve delivered for them at last. It was a tough race, but to come out on top, I’m absolutely delighted.”
UPCOMING
The upcoming event in the 2024 F1 calendar is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix set to take place during the weekend of May 17-19. Explore the RACE HUB to learn how you can stay informed about the developments occurring at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
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