Norris beats Verstappen in Miami thanks to a favorable safety car and wins first GP | formula 1

The safety car came onto the track halfway through the race for a crash involving Kevin Magnussen and home favorite Logan Sargeant. That disrupted a strategic battle.

It was crucial for the 24-year-old Norris’s first victory in his 110th Grand Prix. The McLaren leader made his debut for McLaren in 2019. That team last won a race in 2021.

Norris had the necessary fortune due to the course of the race, but was also on his way very quickly in his improved McLaren before the safety car. Once in the lead, Norris couldn’t relinquish it. He unwrapped the gift he had received himself.

Yet Verstappen was allowed to grumble about the course of the race. The Dutchman was virtually in the lead after his pit stop. Norris was the only one in the battle to make a pit stop at the front. He was able to do that while the rest of the field had to take their foot off the gas.

The Englishman had a lead of at least ten seconds at that moment, which would probably have put him on the track ahead of Verstappen. However, the safety car mistakenly picked up Verstappen as leader, making Norris completely certain of the first position.

Moreover, he also immediately had newer tires than Verstappen, who, apart from an attack during the restart, proved unable to do anything against the McLaren driver. “I can’t get the car through the bends properly,” he shouted over the on-board radio, after which the Limburger drove controlled to second place.

The Ferrari drivers were also unsuccessful with the safety car, although Charles Leclerc still took third place. Carlos Sainz finished fourth, after some skirmishes with Oscar Piastri. Norris’ teammate was also well on his way, until he damaged his McLaren in the battle with Sainz and fell far back.

Sergio Pérez had a mediocre performance in Miami. The Mexican almost knocked his teammate off the track at the start, with a late braking action in the first corner. Even after that, the second Red Bull driver was unable to compete for the podium places. Pérez especially had difficulty defending his fifth place against Lewis Hamilton, who ultimately finished sixth.

That all happened far behind Norris, who crossed the line as the winner a week after suffering a cut in his nose on King’s Day in Amsterdam. The bandage on his nose was still there on Sunday. “Thanks dad, thanks mom. I’m so happy! This one is for grandma,” said Norris in an initial reaction to his first victory.

Formula 1 will be back in action in two weeks. Then the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Imola is on the program.