The most popular driver on social media, the driver without enemies, the driver everyone likes, won. Lando Norris he was becoming like Stirling Moss, in numerical terms: an eternal second, someone who never wins but knows how to excite the public. A cruel, unjust fate. But finally, in Miami, victory came. Beautiful, tiring, torn with nails to a guy like Max Verstappen who is his best friend but on the track remains a fierce rival who never gives up. But even for Max there was nothing he could do against a surprise McLaren has grown race after race without being too noticeablealmost hiding, until the triumph on a track without tire degradation.
For a total of 16 laps, Norris remained at the back, sixth, about ten seconds behind. Then the comeback facilitated by the Safety Car and the flight towards success with the Pirelli Hard tyres, nibbling away at each pass a small margin on a Verstappen that he was probably confident he could overcome it and instead he suffered his first real defeat on the track of 2024. Once in a while it happens to him too, but soon we’ll see him at the front again.
And Ferrari? It was the second force on the grid and was third on the finish line. The pace was good, but never a hint of determination or rebellion. If Leclerc hadn’t been stopped so early to change tyres, second place would probably have been his, but he couldn’t have done anything against Norris. McLaren in one fell swoop overtook Red Bull and Ferrari, there is new air in Formula 1. Let’s hope it lasts…
