Lando Norris achieved his long-awaited first Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix, overcoming past doubts and pressures, particularly from a previous loss in the 2021 Russian Grand Prix due to a strategic error, and proving his critics wrong by demonstrating improved focus and performance under pressure.
Highlights
‣ Lando Norris achieved his long-awaited first Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix, overcoming doubts and pressure, particularly from Max Verstappen.
‣ Norris reflects on a previous missed opportunity for victory at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, acknowledging both his and the team’s mistakes during that race.
‣ Despite past criticisms and doubts about his ability to win races and handle pressure, Norris feels more confident and focused this year, attributing his success to improvements in overcoming his weaknesses and hard work.
Lando Norris’s dream shimmered into reality in Miami. He clinched the Grand Prix, a victory that silenced the skeptics. Many thought the pressure, especially from Max Verstappen, would be his downfall. But Norris proved them wrong.
### Norris: ‘Totally different situation’
Victory in Formula 1? For Norris, it seemed an elusive beast. Remember Russia, 2021? He was on the brink, leading. Then the rain came. He stuck with slicks too long. At a press conference, flashbacks of that day haunted him. “Russia ’21,” he mused, “was a whole other beast.” Critics had a field day with Sochi. Norris admitted, “I lost us the victory, not just me but us.” It was a tough pill to swallow.
### Norris: ‘People keep using that against me’
The chatter didn’t stop. “Even after China last weekend,” Norris recalled, “mistakes were made.” Doubts about his ability to lead, to thrive under the gaze of competition, especially with Verstappen in the rearview, were rampant. Yet, this year was different. “I wasn’t bogged down by the past,” he declared. Last year? Maybe. But now, Norris was a fortress of focus. “I’m nailing it, finding speed, and hitting my marks,” he said with a grin. His transformation was evident. Weaknesses? He’d tackled them head-on. “All that grind,” Norris acknowledged, “it’s finally paying off.”
In essence, Norris’s journey was a rollercoaster, marked by highs and lows, criticism, and self-doubt. Yet, in Miami, he emerged victorious, a testament to his resilience and growth.
