A complete of 110 races and 16 podiums later, Lando Norris has for the primary time entered the Components 1 Grand Prix winner’s checklist. The Briton made essentially the most of a fortunate break within the type of a security automobile at simply the proper second to beat Max Verstappen. A protracted-awaited second for the McLaren chief… and one which was celebrated by a lot of his grid mates, together with Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz.
In fact, the McLaren occasion was in full swing after the win (together with a dedication to the late Gil de Ferran)… not least as a result of the British group had not received a Grand Prix since Monza 2021 (the earlier victory, by Oscar Piastri in 2023, got here in a dash race), with Ricciardo profitable… over a Lando Norris who was pressured to respect group orders in his wake.
Ryan Garcia exhibits his assist for Donald Trump with a brief boxing exhibition
Trump, essentially the most controversial VIP on the Miami GP
McLaren was the centre of consideration after the race… but in addition earlier than. In a Grand Prix characterised by the stellar presence of VIPs (from Kendall Jenner to Ed Sheeran, Marc Anthony, Patrick Mahomes, Zinedine Zidane and lots of others)… amongst which one stood out above all others. None aside from former US President Donald Trump.
Trump, now within the midst of an election race (the forty seventh American president can be elected in November), attended the race as a visitor of the British group, skippered by his compatriot Zak Brown. Undoubtedly, the paddock of a Components 1 Grand Prix in a key state like Florida (susceptible to the businessman) doesn’t ‘spare’, even in pre-campaign.
His presence generated controversy… to the purpose that the British group itself needed to publicly make clear the explanation for inviting the Republican candidate, specifying that this reality didn’t suggest assist for the political choice he represents: “McLaren is an apolitical organisation, however we recognise and respect the workplace of the President of the US,” they defined in an announcement.
‘So after we had been requested to go to our storage on race day, we agreed together with the FIA President and the CEOs of Liberty Media and Components 1. We had been honoured that McLaren Racing was chosen as F1’s consultant, giving us the chance to showcase the world-class engineering we carry to motorsport,” they added.
Trump was Norris’s ‘fortunate appeal’
Be that as it could, what is definite is that the presence of Donald Trump introduced luck to the hosts. The President, who obtained a standing ovation of “USA, USA!” from the primary grandstand firstly of the race, additionally got here all the way down to the rostrum to greet the winner, Lando Norris.
“I did not see him within the storage earlier than the race as a result of I used to be busy preparing, however he got here to see me afterwards to congratulate me. He stated it was my fortunate appeal as a result of it was my first win, so I do not know if he’ll come to extra races now,” Norris joked after the race on the topic.
“Donald is an individual to respect in some ways, and I suppose it was an honour for him to return as much as me and take a second out of his life to acknowledge what I’ve carried out. It was a fantastic second,” he added.
He wished to be on the 500 Miles
Trump is within the midst of campaigning for a return to the US presidency (he was the forty fifth president and aspires to develop into the forty seventh) and appears to have put the highlight on motor racing, though not at each main motoring occasion has he been so effectively obtained.
His presence on the Miami Grand Prix was private, however Trump additionally had plans to take centre stage on the summer season’s different huge motorsport occasion: the Indianapolis 500.
As revealed by RACER, his candidacy deliberate to sponsor one of many vehicles that can participate within the 108th version of the legendary race, however the organisation didn’t give the go-ahead to that motion to keep away from political controversy. “IndyCar doesn’t approve sponsorships related to elected officers, candidates for political workplace or political motion committees,” IndyCar administration informed the American publication.
