Lando Norris won with McLaren in the Miami GP and achieved his first victory in Formula 1 in the best race of the year

Lando Norris struck the blow and won the third edition of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on the street circuit that surrounds the Hard Rock Stadium. The 24-year-old Englishman achieved his first victory in the Máxima and brought joy back to McLaren following almost three years. He did a great job and, once he captured the lead, he maintained a great pace to stay ahead in the best race of the year.

At the start, poleman Max Verstappen did an impeccable job with his Red Bull and started at the front. At the start his teammate Sergio “Checo” Pérez went too far in the first corner, but luckily there were no contacts. As has been happening this season, the 26-year-old Dutchman dominated at will and with a difference of 3 seconds over Oscar Piastri (McLaren) he controlled the actions.

However, on lap 21, Verstappen overshot a corner and hit a cone, which ended up in the middle of the track and, to remove it, the stewards applied the virtual safety car. Max entered the pits on lap 23 and at that moment Piastri captured command of the race.

* Verstappen wore a cone

On lap 29 there was a safety car to remove the local Williams, Logan Sargeant, who received a touch from Kevin Magnussen (Haas). The American’s monoposto was left crossed with the rear part damaged.

At the relaunch there was excitement as Max, who had returned to the track in fourth position with the rest of the entries to the pits, placed second behind Lando Norris, who also led with the other McLaren. The Englishman was in front with the Dutchman behind, who had no respite as he was attacked by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Piastri himself and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), who sought to surpass the Australian.

Norris managed to make a margin of more than second over Verstappen, who might not apply DRS, the system that allows movement in the rear wing and better air intake and more speed to the car behind. The three-time world champion might not get closer than one second (margin that enables the use of DRS) to the Briton due to Leclerc’s stalking.

In this race Red Bull did not achieve a good set-up for the hard tire, which was the compound that Verstappen had following his stoppage. “I can’t get the car to turn, it’s a disaster,” Max shot in a radio conversation with his engineers.

Charles Leclerc completed the podium (Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

With 17 rounds left, Sainz surpassed Piastri in a maneuver to the limit. Upon entering the main straight, the Oceanian applied DRS and accounted for the Iberian, but when he reached the first corner he overshot and the Ferrari driver was able to maintain fifth place.

In the last section of the competition, Norris managed to extend his difference with Verstappen from 2 to 5 seconds and controlled the actions without problems with his MCL38. He achieved his first victory following 110 Grand Prix. McLaren was not winning on September 12, 2021, when Daniel Ricciardo was the winner in Italy. Heaven gift? Just in the week of the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death, the team where the Brazilian shone returned to victory.

The news was that Verstappen did not win, but his second place allowed him to remain leader of the World Drivers’ Championship. Third was Leclerc, with the Ferrari. The rest of the top ten was made up of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Sergio “Checo” Pérez (Red Bull), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team), George Russell, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Esteban Ocon (Alpine).

The next date will be May 19 with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Autódromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari in Imola. It will be the start of ten competitions in a row in Europe.