Lando Norris celebrating.
Lando Norris can be forgiven for letting an F-bomb slip out after he made himself a Formula 1 Grand Prix winner at last in Miami.
Norris had previously held the unenviable record for the highest number of podium finishes without a win. However, everything turned around for him at the Miami Grand Prix when he crossed the finish line first, securing his inaugural victory. In doing so, he put an end to Max Verstappen’s unbeaten run in Miami.
‘About time!’ – Lando Norris wins the Miami Grand Prix
Norris made a strategic decision to stay on the medium tyres for a longer period, which ultimately worked in his favor. The deployment of the Safety Car, triggered by a collision between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant, presented Norris with an opportunity to make a pit stop and resurface while still leading the race. He maintained this lead until the end, refusing to give it up.
Norris’s face lit up with joy as he exclaimed, “Finally, it’s about time!” following his triumphant first F1 win.
“F*ck, sorry!
“What an incredible race! It has been a journey filled with anticipation, but I have finally achieved it. I am absolutely elated for my entire team as I have finally come through for them.”
“After enduring a grueling race throughout a lengthy day, I have emerged victorious, and as a result, I am ecstatic beyond measure.”
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Although Verstappen seemed to be on track for victory until the Safety Car, Norris ultimately claimed the win by distancing himself from the Dutchman during the restart, finishing with a comfortable lead of 7.6 seconds.
When asked to acknowledge his accomplishment, Norris responded by saying, “Yes, I am proud. I mean, the entire weekend has been great.”
“I encountered a few minor obstacles on my journey, but by Friday, I was confident in our speed despite a few errors here and there. However, today, we successfully merged everything. Our strategy was flawless, and it was all worth it thanks to McLaren and everyone involved. Of course, I must give a special mention to my mom and dad.”
Despite facing criticism for signing a new multi-year contract with McLaren before the season, Norris firmly believed that he would achieve his first victory with the team in 2024.
However, Norris expressed that this triumph reinforces his faith in the team.
When questioned about whether he had any words of wisdom for his McLaren team, Norris simply replied, “What should I say to them? I’m genuinely just filled with pride.”
“Throughout my journey, numerous individuals harbored doubts about me. Undeniably, I have committed numerous mistakes during my relatively brief five-year career. However, today marks the culmination of all those experiences as we finally bring everything together.”
“This is solely for the team’s benefit. I remained loyal to McLaren because I had faith in them, and today’s events have undeniably validated that belief.”
After delivering an impressive performance in Miami, Norris will now set his sights on securing consecutive victories as he heads into the next round at Imola with his heavily-upgraded McLaren.
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