Lando Norris, Formula 1’s latest race victor, receives a warm embrace from Max Verstappen.
Formula 1 could yet be in for a title fight with Jenson Button predicting McLaren’s Miami Grand Prix victory will force Red Bull into a “very different in the way of thinking” as they now have two rivals.
In contrast to the previous season where Red Bull emerged victorious in almost every Grand Prix, the Milton Keynes team has already suffered two defeats on the 2024 circuit. Carlos Sainz claimed victory in Australia, followed by Lando Norris, who became the newest race winner in Miami last Sunday.
‘Red Bull are going to have their eye on McLaren, not just Ferrari’
He achieved this by triumphing over Verstappen in a direct battle all the way to the finish line.
When the race restarted after a Safety Car incident, Norris found himself in P1. This fortunate position was thanks to a free pit stop he received after Magnussen’s collision with Sargeant. Verstappen tried to challenge Norris into Turn 1, but there was no opportunity to overtake.
After that failed challenge, Norris in the McLaren ‘2.0’ MCL38 began to pull away from the reigning World Champion to take the win by seven seconds, his first-ever F1 race victory.
Given Red Bull’s dominance, the unexpected outcome came as a surprise. Button believes that this result could spark the championship race, as Red Bull now has to be wary of both Ferrari and McLaren.
“Their correlation at McLaren appears to be extraordinary,” he informed Sky Sports. “The upgrades implemented in Silverstone last year had a tremendous impact. They delivered exactly as promised.”
“That is the most challenging aspect in the realm of Formula One.”
Having a team comprised of exceptional individuals is crucial. However, the correlation between CFD, aero simulations, and track performance is immensely important. Once the team gains confidence in these aspects, they can continue to improve upon them. I am optimistic that these improvements will translate to success on the tracks.
I hope that the success we’re experiencing here is not solely dependent on the specific track we’re on. The upcoming tracks will be quite distinct, but they are all incredible. I truly wish for this positive trend to continue.
“The championship outcome is uncertain, and we must be vigilant throughout the next few races.”
Red Bull will be closely monitoring not only Ferrari but also their every move.
The mindset going into a race weekend has changed significantly for Red Bull due to the challenge posed by McLaren. This has resulted in a shift in their strategic approach, requiring them to remain vigilant and alert throughout the entire event.
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No reason why McLaren ‘won’t keep going’ forwards
Danica Patrick, another pundit, also praised McLaren’s design team for their remarkable achievement of introducing 10 upgrades to the Miami circuit. It is worth noting that they accomplished this during a Sprint weekend, with only one hour of practice.
Now she believes it’s time to start playing.
“They recently acquired 10 of them. So, if that’s their mindset and they have the financial resources and creative talent to accomplish it, there’s no logical explanation as to why they wouldn’t continue.”
Norris absolutely outperformed Red Bull and Max as he effortlessly distanced himself from them.
“So, you see, initially it wasn’t clear that the updates were the reason, but during the race, it was evident that they had significantly improved.”
“I hope it remains highly competitive till the very end, with new winners emerging. It adds an extra level of excitement and makes it all the more enjoyable.”
However, Verstappen with his P2 on the day still extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 35 points over Sergio Perez. Norris is up to fourth on 83 points.
Read next: Miami Grand Prix conclusions: McLaren, not Ferrari, are Red Bull’s biggest threat
