Lando Norris achieves his first Formula 1 triumph, winning the Miami Grand Prix in the presence of an impressive audience.
Lando Norris, the McLaren driver, started the Miami Grand Prix in fifth position, but he successfully took the lead and profited from a mid-race safety car pause to change tires while remaining in front of his rivals.
After the race resumed, the 24-year-old demonstrated outstanding driving skills to secure the rest of the race, finishing 7.612 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen from Red Bull in second position. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari took third place on the podium.
This event held special significance for Norris, who managed to overcome earlier setbacks and notch his first F1 race win after 15 previous podium finishes. "I'm just so proud," Norris commented after the race. "Many people doubted me. I've made many mistakes during my career but today we pulled it off."
His victory marks the first win for McLaren since 2021 and the second in the last 12 years. McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, was similarly appreciative of Norris, regarding it as "a long-awaited victory." He added, "Lando drove flawlessly and the car performed incredibly."
With this triumph, Norris moves up to fourth place in the 2024 driver's championship, 53 points behind Verstappen in the lead. Verstappen, a three-time defending champion, applauded Norris on achieving his first win.
The next F1 event will take place in Italy at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, scheduled to start on May 17.
A glittering social scene
The Miami Grand Prix has rapidly grown into one of the most exciting fixtures on the F1 calendar, with the celebrity spotting rivaling the on-track action itself. High-profile attendees this year included Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and former NFL star; Lisa, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink; Camila Cabello, a singer-songwriter; Ed Sheeran, a singer-songwriter; and actor Anthony Mackie.
Many current athletes attended the Miami International Autodrome during race week, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, both Kansas City Chiefs stars, NFL player Odell Beckham Jr., and US Olympian Fred Kerley.
Notable public figures in attendance also included Donald Trump, former President of the United States.
The 2023 Miami Grand Prix attracted a record-setting 275,000 spectators across the racing weekend, according to Formula One, showcasing remarkable growth compared to the previous year's attendance of 230,000.
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Lando Norris's victory in the Miami Grand Prix was a significant milestone in his motorsport career, marking his first Formula 1 win after multiple podium finishes.In the sparkling atmosphere of the Miami Grand Prix, the motorsport event drew a diverse array of celebrities and public figures, including musicians and athletes, who celebrated the thrilling sport alongside avid fans.
Source: edition.cnn.com
