Formula One saw a historic moment at the Miami Grand Prix as Lando Norris secured his first career victory, beating Max Verstappen by a narrow margin.
Norris, who had previously finished on the podium fifteen times before winning, took advantage of a well-timed safety car to make his pitstop and take the lead. The McLaren driver admitted that finally taking his first victory was a weight off his shoulders, but according to team principal Andreas Seidl, it was also a relief for the team.
Verstappen had led the race until lap 24 when he pitted under normal circumstances. Norris inherited the lead due to McLaren's strategic call and opened up a gap with fresher tires after the safety car period. Verstappen tried to close in but ultimately couldn't catch Norris, who held on for a hard-fought win.
Former President Trump was also in attendance at the race and was seen waving to fans and saluting during the national anthem. Trump wore his signature red 'Make America Great Again' hat during the event.
The Miami Grand Prix saw several other notable moments, including a clash between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant that resulted in a safety car deployment. Max Verstappen, who had retired from the Australian GP due to a brake problem, finished second behind Norris.
Norris's win was met with praise from fellow drivers and team principals alike. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc called it an 'incredible job' by Norris, while McLaren CEO Zak Brown hailed the Briton as a 'rising star in Formula One'.
The Miami Grand Prix marked Norris's first win in motor racing after over 2200 days. He had previously finished on the podium fifteen times before finally breaking through with a victory at the Miami International Autodrome.
Formula One returns to action next weekend with the Monaco Grand Prix.
