Lando Norris stole the show in Miami, securing his first-ever Formula 1 victory in a thrilling Grand Prix! The McLaren driver defied expectations, overtaking championship leader Max Verstappen to take the checkered flag.
Norris started cautiously in sixth, while teammate Oscar Piastri initially threatened an upset. However, a perfectly timed Safety Car midway through the race changed everything. Running a longer first stint, Norris emerged from the pits in the lead, with Verstappen forced into second after stopping under normal conditions.
Despite a fierce attack from Verstappen at the restart, Norris held his nerve and built a comfortable lead. Verstappen’s struggles with balance continued, allowing Norris to control the race and finally banish the demons of his near-miss at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix. ️
This victory marks a historic moment for Norris, achieved in his 110th race attempt. What a dream come true!
The rest of the podium positions saw Charles Leclerc in third for Ferrari, followed by his teammate Carlos Sainz. A late-race clash between Sainz and Piastri forced the young Australian to pit for a new front wing, dropping him out of contention.
Sergio Perez finished fifth in the second Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton and George Russell salvaged some points for Mercedes in sixth and eighth, respectively.
The race also saw strong performances from Yuki Tsunoda (7th, AlphaTauri), Fernando Alonso (9th, Aston Martin), and Esteban Ocon (10th, Alpine).
McLaren celebrated a double victory with Piastri eventually finishing 13th despite his front wing change. The race wasn’t without its penalties, with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) receiving a 10-second sanction for gaining an advantage off-track, and Kevin Magnussen (Haas) facing a similar penalty for colliding with Williams’ Logan Sargeant, who retired from the race.
This dramatic Miami Grand Prix will be remembered for Lando Norris’s sensational breakthrough victory, a moment of pure joy for the driver, his team, and McLaren fans everywhere!
This win is also a proud moment for Bahrain! Earlier this year, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, took full ownership of McLaren Group. ?? McLaren and Bahrain, a winning combination!
Want to hear more about McLaren’s push for the podium this year? Life & Style recently interviewed CEO Zak Brown. You can read the full interview here.
