Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris’ First Victory and the Key Takeaways From 2024 US Event

Lando Norris' name reverberated through the Miami International Autodrome after the McLaren driver achieved a surprising first-place finish in the Florida race.

The 24-year-old had gained a reputation after setting an unwanted record of the most podium finishes without a race win - 14 times.

However, Norris finally secured victory on his 15th attempt, piloting his upgraded MCL38 to the checkered flag and claiming his spot at the top of the podium.

However, Norris’ maiden win was not the only headline from the Miami Grand Prix. Against the backdrop of McLaren's jubilation, Sports Brief highlights the key moments and takeaways from the 2024 race.

Miami Grand Prix key takeaways

Lando Norris' maiden win

The British driver secured his first-ever victory in his 110th Grand Prix entrance, capitalising on a lap 29 incident involving Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant, which prompted a safety car deployment.

Norris, who had already assumed the lead after Verstappen's earlier pit stop, expertly managed the pit window created by the safety car, maintaining his advantage until the checkered flag.

This long-awaited win saw him become only the 21st British driver to achieve a race victory in F1 and the first since George Russell's triumph in Brazil in 2022.

With this milestone under Norris' belt, the McLaren driver will now set his sights on further victories, aiming to secure his second win even sooner.

Red Bull’s invincibility in question?

The Austrian team appeared far from their usual lofty standards throughout the race weekend, and it was little surprise that neither of the team’s drivers could make an impression on the flying McLarens throughout the race.

From the get-go of the race weekend, both Sergio Perez and Verstappen had felt less than comfortable in their RB20 car. Both drivers often hinted at the setups for the weekend and the tyre degradation, which appeared to be an issue in their race at Albert Park, resurfacing.

The Milton Keynes team, however, will be looking for a commanding response, as they are accustomed to delivering, at the next Grand Prix in Imola.

Alpine’s improvement

Undoubtedly one of the most improved teams of the weekend behind McLaren, the French team will look back at the Miami Grand Prix with many smiles and plenty of positives to take away.

Heading into the race in Florida, the Enstone team decided to shed the excess weight that appeared to be hampering the performance of the A524 car, and they also added a few upgrades to improve overall efficiency.

This decision yielded instant dividends, as the French team scored their first points finish at the Miami Grand Prix, with Esteban Ocon finishing P10.

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Formula 1

Alpine, who were known for top-half finishes up until the start of the 2024 campaign, appear to be well on track to return to their glory days. Their performance at Imola in a fortnight will definitely be one to keep an eye on.

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