MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A smile crept onto Lando Norris' face through the post-race media sessions.
His first Formula 1 victory was a protracted time coming. He got here close a number of times, but was then thwarted by small mistakes, like in Qatar 2023, and things beyond his control, just like the rain and strategic decisions in Sochi 2021. He joined the Formula 1 starting grid with McLaren in 2019 because the Nineteenth-year-old, now in his sixth season and before the Grand Prix weekend in Miami, the Brit had secured a pole position and was on the rostrum 15 times and drove over 6,000 laps.
As each rider stopped for interviews on the media station, almost everyone touched on the identical point: It's time.
Fernando Alonso predicted that this could be “the first of many victories” for Lando Norris. (Kym Illman/Getty Images)
“Well done, Lando,” said Fernando Alonso. “First victory after so many podiums. I'm really joyful for him. Hopefully he remembers today – the primary of many victories.” The Aston Martin driver was not the only one to suggest that this would not be the final victory for the 24-year-old. Max Verstappen said: “I’m very happy for Lando. It had been foreseeable for a long time. And it won't be his last. He deserves it today.”
The victory came at a pivotal moment in the sport. In the last 28 Grands Prix, Red Bull has won all but two races: Singapore 2023 and Australia 2024, both won by Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. Verstappen remained largely unchallenged and built up a pretty good lead race after race. But this weekend in Miami, McLaren took the chance to beat Red Bull in a head-to-head battle. When Norris passed Verstappen after the safety cars, it was important that fresh tires and clean air beat an incredibly fast car.
“I am very happy for Lando. It had been foreseeable for a long time. And it won't be his last. He deserved it today,” said Max Verstappen (left) about Lando Norris (right). (Giorgio Viera/AFP)
“He probably deserved a race win many, many years ago,” Mercedes’ George Russell said. “And I think for all the drivers in Formula 1, in this era of dominance by one team and one driver, it's always great to see someone get the chance to get a win.”
Norris began sixteenth finally yr's Miami GP and finished seventeenth for a struggling McLaren that turned its season around within the second half of 2023. Now he’s celebrating his first win in three years. Oscar Piastri said he was “very happy for (Norris) and for the whole team, and I think we deserve it. “Our path over the past 12 months has been towards this moment.”
Lewis Hamilton remembered his first F1 victory in 2007, which he also celebrated with McLaren. The team still has “a big part of my heart,” he said, and was happy to see them win again. The Woking-based team's last F1 victory came at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix for Daniel Ricciardo.
Before post-race interviews, drivers traditionally have a quick chat with their team and crew members pat them on the helmet or back. However, Norris jumped over the barrier for joy, and the McLaren crew members were equally happy to hug their new race winner. The emotions were overflowing.
A memory that can last a lifetime! 🧡#MiamiGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/N1t0dc7orD
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 5, 2024
“I’m just really happy for Lando. “As much as we all want to beat each other and come out on top, it's always emotional to see so much emotion from one of our competitors,” said Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. “We all grew up together. I remember looking at Lando when he was still in KF3 and we all had the same dream of becoming Formula 1 drivers one day.”
Norris isn’t any stranger to hate, with memes and nicknames like “Lando No Wins” popping up on social media when people discuss his record. But the Brit says the words of those closest to him are more meaningful and thanked his competitors for his or her praise and support. In parc ferme and within the media area, various riders hugged Norris and congratulated him on a moment he’ll likely remember perpetually.
“When you put the helmet on and you hate them and you want to beat them and you don't care who's who, I've always had respect for the people I've raced against. So if someone shows up [to me]“Especially people who have achieved a lot, because it always means a little more,” said Norris. “So when Lewis, Fernando, Max, Charles, Carlos come up to you or people have good words for you, I really appreciate it. Because to these people it means something. Maybe from others, that's not the case.
“These people are the people who know what it takes to achieve things like this – the work, time and effort that goes into something like this.”
image credit : theathletic.com