'He Deserves It': Lando Norris Surpasses Verstappen for First F1 Win of His Career - Latest Global News
'He deserves it': Lando Norris surpasses Verstappen for first F1 win of his career

‘He Deserves It’: Lando Norris Surpasses Verstappen for First F1 Win of His Career

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McLaren’s Lando Norris has won the first Formula 1 race of his career with a surprise victory over world champion Max Verstappen at the Miami Grand Prix.

Norris breathes life into an F1 season in danger of becoming a one-man story again by beating Verstappen by more than seven seconds in his 110th race for McLaren, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third.

Verstappen, who started from pole, had won four of the first five races of the season and leads the world championship standings.

It was business as usual for the Dutchman, who had won the last two races in Miami, until he pitted on lap 24 and Norris’ McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri took the lead.

Australian Piastri himself pitted four laps later, allowing Norris to take the lead and the British driver never looked back.

Crucially, Norris was able to pit on lap 30 during a safety car, giving him a valuable time advantage that he never relinquished.

The safety car came after Kevin Magnussen overtook Logan Sargeant, sending the American Williams driver crashing into the wall and bringing out the yellow flag.

Norris, who had been on the podium 15 times before his first victory, took full advantage of the safety car period and secured his first victory while Verstappen struggled to catch up.

It was the first time Verstappen was beaten on track at the end of the race since Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz won in Singapore in September last year.

Norris was lifted into the air by McLaren mechanics as his long wait for a win in the sport came to an end.

“It’s about time, isn’t it?” said Norris: “I knew on Friday that we had the pace… today we managed to put it together.” We had the perfect strategy. It all paid off,” he added.

“I guess a lot of people have doubted me over time. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the last five years of my short career, but today we brought it all together, so it’s all for the team.

“I stayed at McLaren because I could believe in them and I believed in them and today I proved exactly that,” he added.

As he pulled into the pit lane, Norris was surrounded by his team, congratulated by the other drivers and cheered by a huge crowd at the Miami International Autodrome.

‘He deserves it’

The closest Norris came to winning a Grand Prix was when he took the lead in Sochi, Russia, in 2021 before missing a tire change as the rain began, which cost him dearly.

Verstappen, who complained about a lack of grip in qualifying and Sunday’s race, said his Red Bull was unable to keep up with Norris after the McLaren driver switched to hard tires.

“They just had more speed, Lando was flying. It’s been incredibly difficult for us, but on the bad days I’ll take second place, right?

“I’m really happy for Lando, it’s been a long time coming and it won’t be his last. He definitely deserves it,” said the Dutchman.

Leclerc echoed those sentiments.

“Very often he would run very close, but for one reason or another he wouldn’t make it. But today he did an incredible job and he was there all weekend,” said the Ferrari driver.

As with the first two years of the Miami Grand Prix, which was held around Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, the race attracted many celebrities.

Among those spotted at the race were former French international player and coach Zinedine Zidane, singer Ed Sheeran, Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and former US President Donald Trump. Trump visited the McLaren garage before the race.

Trump, who visited the McLaren workshop before the race, was happy to support a winner and later told Norris that he was his good luck charm.

“He saw me after and came to congratulate me,” said Norris, who told his grandmother before arriving in Miami that he was going to win a race.

Norris’ parents were thrilled, even though they weren’t in Miami to witness the moment.

Members of the McLaren pit crew celebrate after Lando Norris’ victory [Rebecca Blackwell/AP]

“The cider flows in Somerset! A big celebration,” Adam Norris told Sky Sports. “I calculated that I have probably taken part in around 900 races in the last 16 years.

“It’s brilliant. I’m so happy for him.”

Anthony Hamilton, another father who was instrumental in the success of his son – seven-time world champion Lewis – also sent Norris congratulations via text message.

Norris was still making plans on how he would celebrate his first win, but he was already thinking about a second win.

“That only happens once, when you get your first win. “Tonight will be a good evening,” said Norris, confirming that team boss Zak Brown had postponed the flight home until Monday so that there would be a proper celebration.

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