Lando Norris ended Max Verstappen’s crushing winning streak by claiming the maiden victory of his career in Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix.
In his 110th Formula One appearance, the 24-year-old from Bristol, who started fifth, took advantage of a safety car period at the Hard Rock Stadium to move ahead of Verstappen before holding his nerve to take the chequered flag.
An emotional Norris crossed the line seconds clear of Verstappen, who had no answer to the British driver’s brilliant pace as he claimed McLaren’s first victory in nearly three years.
Verstappen had to settle for second as Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, one place ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton claimed his best result of the season, crossing the line sixth.
Norris, who has emerged as one of the grid’s brightest stars following his debut as a teenager in Melbourne in 2019, has so often been the nearly-man.
Just last month, he became the first driver in F1’s 74-year history to finish on the podium 14 times, having never taking to the top step. And in China a fortnight ago, he drove brilliantly only to finish runner-up to Verstappen.
But the race here in Miami – with former United States president Donald Trump a visitor in the McLaren garage two hours before the lights went out – belonged to Norris.
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