Lando Norris secured his first Formula One Grand Prix victory in Miami by taking advantage of a mid-race Safety Car period to outperform Max Verstappen.
Initially positioned sixth, Norris’s fortunes changed when the Safety Car was deployed on lap 29 following a collision between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant at Turn 3.
Significantly, Norris remained the only leading runner yet to change tyres, allowing him to pit without giving up his inherited lead.
Returning to racing on lap 33, Norris successfully held off Verstappen’s challenge and maintained his lead to secure a remarkable first Grand Prix win after 110 starts.
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Expressing his elation, Norris said, “It’s been a long time coming, but finally I’ve done it. I’m ecstatic for my team.”
Norris’s victory, aided by McLaren’s upgrades, saw him cross the finish line 7.6 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who faced difficulties after cutting a chicane on lap 22.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured third place, with teammate Carlos Sainz in fourth. Sergio Perez of Red Bull finished fifth, followed by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in sixth.
Yuki Tsunoda impressed with a seventh-place finish, followed by George Russell of Mercedes in eighth. Fernando Alonso claimed ninth for Aston Martin, while Esteban Ocon earned Alpine’s first point of the season in tenth.
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Despite missing out on victory, Verstappen extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 138 points, with Perez in second and Leclerc in third.
Red Bull maintained their lead in the Constructors’ Championship with 237 points, followed by Ferrari and McLaren. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, awaits as the seventh round of the 2024 F1 World Championship on May 19.
