Lando Norris took advantage of a timely caution, scored his first career victory and handed Max Verstappen his first South Florida defeat, taking the win Sunday in the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Fla.
After the rest of the field pitted before the halfway point, Norris stayed out until Lap 30 after Landon Sargeant and Kevin Magnussen collided in Turn 3, bringing out the safety car.
Norris, 24, pulled away from Verstappen by 1.5 seconds two laps into the restart and eventually grew the lead to over five seconds with 10 circuits remaining.
He beat Verstappen by 7.612 seconds for his first win in 110 career starts for McLaren.
Norris’ win broke Verstappen’s six-race winning streak in the U.S.
Verstappen failed to win in the Miami Grand Prix for the first time in its three races.
Charles Leclerq, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez rounded out the top five.
Round 6 of the 2024 F1 World Championship opened with a near-miss right away.
Polesitter Verstappen had a poor start to begin the 57-lap event and watched teammate Perez pull away as they sped into Turn 1.
However, the Mexican driver overcharged the turn and pushed up — nearly clipping the rear of Verstappen’s car — and relinquished the lead.
Verstappen held the point through the first circuit, marking yet another first-lap lead.
The last time the Dutch driver did not lead Lap 1 was Oct. 22 in Austin, Texas.
–Field Level Media
