MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lando Norris let out a “Wow!” It was so loud that Ric Flair would be proud.
Norris won Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix, his first win in F1 after 110 races. And with a cheeky grin on his face, the 24-year-old McLaren driver couldn’t wait to celebrate before boarding his flight back to the UK on Monday.
“I’m not going to sleep. I’m going to go all the way,” Norris said with a smile. “It’s great to be able to do it in Miami. I wish it was at Silverstone (England).”
Three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, who finished a respectable second despite taking pole and winning Saturday’s sprint race, quickly chimed in.
“Trust me, it’s better to be out here,” Verstappen said with a smile about Miami after the second race of the F1 season, which was won by someone other than himself.
Here are 5 things we learned after the 2024 Miami Grand Prix.
It’s a welcome sight to see other F1 drivers celebrating Norris.
It has been 1,876 days since Norris made his F1 debut. He can no longer be trolled with the nickname “Rand Unwinner.” And you can only imagine the relief he feels on the brink of victory these days.
Norris finished second six times in 2023. He also competed in the Miami race after finishing second in China last weekend.
Despite falling just short, other F1 drivers heartily praised Norris’ breakthrough.
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“It will forever be one of the happiest days of his life. I’m happy to see him smile,” Daniel Ricciardo said of Norris.
“He’s got the talent. And obviously, so do all of us here. But he’s been so close so many times. We all thought at some point he deserved the win. I’ve always felt that he’s a great driver… We know he’s going to be on the top step one day, and I’m happy for him to get that day.”
Verstappen added: “I’m very happy with Lando’s performance. It’s been a while. And it won’t be his last. He definitely deserves that award today.”
Norris’ Miami win intrigues not just US fans but F1 as a whole
Norris’ win is great not only for die-hard F1 fans in the US who are fed up with Verstappen’s recent dominance, but for everyone involved.
Fans watching may have wondered whether Verstappen, who had won 38 of 50 races by Sunday and was on a tear, would chase Norris.
Verstappen almost completed a three-peat both this weekend and after winning the first two races in Miami at the Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium.
Instead, the race and its result brought intrigue, excitement and a Miami atmosphere, once again demonstrating F1’s momentum in America in the first of three races this year.
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Two more races remain in the United States: the American Grand Prix in Austin, Texas (October 18-20) and the Las Vegas Grand Prix (November 21-23).
“I think people all over the world want to see a little bit of diversity.” [of winners]In that sense, today is a great day for F1,” said Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who won the Australian Grand Prix in late March.
Speaking of diversity, the three races in the United States are not exactly the same
This is the second year that F1 has held three races in the United States, but one common theme that is hard for some to accept is the difference that Miami, Austin and Las Vegas bring to F1 and its fans around the world.
There is literally a night and day difference between racing in Las Vegas and Miami. While Las Vegas is close to Asia, it boasts a Saturday night 10pm PT start as a premium pay-per-view fight that appeals to European fans. Miami is the gateway to the Americas, and the race is held on Sunday afternoon, the day after the Kentucky Derby, when clouds and sunshine bring the Miami Dolphins Aqua to the television screen. And Austin has been considered a classic event for racing enthusiasts.
But seeing F1 in person is believable.
“I’ve been involved in auto racing for a long time, but I’ve never been able to watch a race on TV with someone and turn them into a fan. I’ve never been a fan,” said Tom Garfinkel, CEO of the Miami Dolphins and managing partner of the Miami Grand Prix.
“I think people who come to events like this often don’t know much about racing. They’re coming for a great event. And then they find out about it, get hooked on racing, and start watching TV. So I think it’s all great for F1, it’s the best form of motorsport and it’s great to have three races in the United States.
Miami race boasts a sold-out crowd and is on the F1 calendar
Garfinkel announced that tickets for the Miami Grand Prix had sold out for the third consecutive year, with at least 275,000 people attending the race weekend from Friday to Sunday.
Garfinkel, who has seven years left to race on his original 10-year contract, said: We expect to be here 10 years from now. ”
Asked if last year’s Las Vegas race had “diminished” the excitement for Sunday’s Miami race, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said the US race had an impact on the F1 calendar. This is further proof that this is the case.
“Less?” Hamilton answered. “No, I think the sport has gotten even bigger here. It’s gotten a lot more recognition. Every city you go to, people are excited about it. Now it’s a sport here in America, too. Previously, it was an annual event.
“Now we’re part of the culture here, which is really great. It’s been great. The United States has finally embraced this sport and we all grew up with the love and passion for this sport. I think we are all very grateful.”
How much has F1 racing increased the value of the Miami Dolphins?
USA TODAY reported that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has submitted a $10 billion offer for the team, Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Grand Prix by Game 3. But NFL teams aren’t for sale.
Garfinkel, Ross’ right-hand man on the Dolphins and the F1 race, played down this statement about his ownership and the value of NFL teams when asked about the report.
“We know unequivocally that the team is not for sale. In the leadership part of the team, the price could be well over $10 billion, and the team would not be for sale,” Garfinkel said. .
As the value of sports franchises continues to reach new heights around the world, the Dolphins have separated themselves from other teams in the F1 race.
