MIAMI, Florida — A year ago here at Hard Rock Stadium Lando Norris secured his first Grand Prix win in the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
His return to Miami is off to a solid start.
Norris took the win in the F1 Sprint race, surviving wet conditions and a chaotic race to take the checkered flag. The McLaren driver started third behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli and teammate Oscar Piastri, but followed his teammate into P2 after an opening-turn battle with the young Mercedes driver shuffled Antonelli down to fourth.
Then Norris assumed the lead as the drive made the switch to slick tires in the closing stages, with the track surface drying out. Norris was finishing a pit stop of his own when the safety car came out after an incident involving Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson left the Aston Martin driver in the wall.
Green flag conditions resumed for the final few meters of the race, allowing Norris to take the checkered flag.
Speaking with the media, including SB Nation, following the race Norris said “everything went to plan” in the F1 Sprint.
“It was a good race,” began Norris.
“I mean, everything went to plan, you know, [Oscar and I] both had a good start and got into first and second, which was a nice thing. And then, yeah, it was those conditions that we’ve had several times this year where it’s into drying out, but I had good pace throughout.
“I managed things well, but I had mainly good pace at the end of the stint [on the intermediates].”
The McLaren driver also had one extra lap on his set of intermediates where he was able to run in clean air, which allowed him to finish that stint strong.
“The tires, you know, were degrading a lot the last few laps, it was pretty much dry fo for the most of the track, apart from the chicane section,” described Norris. “But I think I just kept my tires in maybe a slightly better condition and still had good pace. Obviously then I had to do one more lap where I could kind of push in the clean air and it was a strong lap again.”
Norris outlined how he remains happy with the MCL39, but did admit that the result is a “boost,” and that every point earned is a good thing in Formula 1.
“I still know my pace is there and the speed is there,” Norris said. “But it’s, of course, it’s a boost, you know. Every little thing, every point is a good thing.
“And, even though I was third yesterday, I was so happy with just the lap I did, a couple of little mistakes, but it was a well-executed lap. And, yeah, just kind of getting up in and putting it there and being there and at least being in the fight, you know. I think a couple of my other mistakes have just sent me further back, but this weekend’s been a good one.
“I’ve been happy with everything, with the car, with myself, with the performances, so, just keep chipping away.”