Lando Norris captured his first Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix and is setting his sights on a memorable, albeit possibly hazardous, celebration in Miami’s famous nightlife. The McLaren driver admitted the festivity might leave him more “scratched up” than his recent minor injury which he sustained ahead of the race.
The British-Belgian driver earned his first Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix, crossing the finish line a commendable seven seconds ahead of defending champion Max Verstappen. Amidst the heat and the roar at the Miami circuit, it was the deployment of a safety car that initially offered Norris the prime opportunity to seize control of the race. From that point, the McLaren driver showed no signs of relenting, effectively maintaining his lead and showcasing the capability of both car and driver on this demanding track.
As the paddock began to wind down, Norris’s intentions for a rather enthusiastic celebration began to take shape. He explained during the post-race Drivers’ Press Conference, as quoted by GP Blog:
“I was meant to fly but Zak [Brown] just told me we fly tomorrow so I’m not going to sleep. I’m going all the way. I might have more than just a scratch on my nose tomorrow, so I don’t care, but I’ll enjoy my time. This only happens once when you’re taking your first win. It’s nice to do it here in Miami.”
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Heading into the Miami race weekend Norris had made headlines after sustaining a facial injury during Amsterdam’s Koningsdag celebrations, seen in social media images sporting bandages, which is what the Miami Grand Prix winner is poking fun at. The incident, reportedly involving broken glass, caused a significant cut to his face, but luckily it was nothing too serious.
Speaking ahead of the race, Norris commented on the injury, as quoted by The Mirror:
“It was just cut on glass, it was just a bit of broken glass, a little bit silly.
“It looks a lot worse than it is, everyone thought it was horrendous, but it’s just a little cut. I wish it was a cooler story, but sadly it is not. Someone took a picture, and it blew up into something much bigger than what it needed to be or should have been. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
Countering Norris’s anticipation for the night, pro tips came flying in from more seasoned members of the F1 paddock. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton suggested Norris “to stay an extra night rather than fly home immediately.” Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, adding to the light-hearted camaraderie, mentioned, “Miami provides a better night out than Silverstone.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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