Formula 1 Drivers With the Longest Wait for a Race Victory As Lando Norris Wins at Miami GP

Winning a Formula 1 race is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement, and Lando Norris' demeanour after securing first place at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix perfectly encapsulates the significance of a victory for any driver on the grid.

Since bursting onto the scene with McLaren at the start of the 2019 season, the British-Belgian star has frequently come close to claiming the top place on the podium.

His closest opportunity came at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, where an untimely weather change ultimately cost him the first-place finish.

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However, despite waiting over five years for his maiden race win, the 24-year-old British driver is not alone in his prolonged wait for Formula 1 glory.

In the wake of Norris' jubilant maiden victory, Sports Brief spotlights drivers who endured the longest journeys before tasting their inaugural F1 triumph.

Formula 1 drivers with the longest wait for a race win

Sergio Perez - 190 races

The Mexican driver currently holds the record for the most Grand Prix entries before a race victory. Checo, as he is fondly called, made his Formula 1 debut at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix; however, his first race victory would not come until the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix with Racing Point. The Mexican driver coasted from 20th on the grid to first in a highly chaotic race.

Carlos Sainz - 150 races

The 29-year-old Spanish driver made his F1 debut with the Italian team, Toro Rosso, at the Australian Grand Prix in 2015 but had to wait until the 2022 British Grand Prix for his maiden F1 win.

Mark Webber - 130 races

The iconic Australian driver is another who had to endure a long wait for his first Formula 1 race victory. The former Red Bull driver made his F1 debut at the 2002 Albert Park race but had to wait until the 2009 German Grand Prix for his first race win of his illustrious career.

Rubens Barrichello - 123 races

The Brazilian driver had an illustrious career, marred by his near-death accident at the 1994 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The former Ferrari driver made his debut at the 1993 South Africa Grand Prix but had to wait until the 2000 German Grand Prix for his maiden race victory.

Jarno Trulli - 117 races

The Italian driver made his Formula 1 debut with Minardi at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix. However, despite showing great promise in his first few races in F1, Trulli would have to wait until the 2004 race in Monte Carlo for his maiden F1 win with Renault.

Jenson Button - 115 races

The British driver is a perfect example of the phrase 'delay is not denial'. He made his F1 debut at the 2000 edition of the Australian Grand Prix but would have to wait until the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix for a victory.

The former Williams driver would go on to clinch a World Drivers' Championship with Brawn GP in 2009, becoming the first driver to wait over 100 races for a victory before going on to clinch the drivers' championship.

Nico Rosberg - 111 races

The German driver would also follow in Button's footsteps, as he went on to clinch a Formula 1 Drivers' Championship after waiting for over 100 races.

Rosberg debuted with Williams Racing in 2006 at the Bahrain Grand Prix but would wait until the 2012 Chinese GP for his maiden victory with Mercedes.

Giancarlo Fischella - 111 races

The Italian driver is another who had to wait for a race victory after making his debut at the 1996 Australian Grand Prix with Minardi. The former Renault driver would eventually wait until the 2003 Grand Prix for his first victory in the sport with the Jordan F1 team.

Lando Norris - 110 races

The British driver also endured a wait of over 110 races for a victory. However, fortune smiled on Norris at the Miami Grand Prix, as a perfectly timed safety car and damage to Max Verstappen’s car saw him clinch his first F1 win on his 110th attempt.

Mark Blundell warns Mercedes

Sports Brief also reported on former McLaren driver, Mark Blundell, issuing a warning to Mercedes AMG about the risk of losing their appeal if their 2024 season struggles continue.

The 58-year-old stressed that the underperforming vehicle the team currently possesses could see them fall down the pecking order in terms of the most attractive teams in F1.