‘Perfect Result’: McLaren Proven Right as Norris Shakes F1 Grip

Lando Norris Claims Historic Pole Position at Miami Grand Prix

Lando Norris has made history by securing the first non-Mercedes pole position of the 2024 Formula 1 season, marking a significant moment in the sport as action resumed at the Miami Grand Prix following a five-week break. The British driver edged out championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds to claim top spot for the sprint race, with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri rounding out the top three, just 0.239 seconds behind.

Norris expressed his satisfaction with the result, stating, “Perfect result for us, nice way to reward the team.” He also highlighted the impact of the new upgrades introduced to the car during the break, saying, “We’ve got a lot of new upgrades on the car, so nice to feel some grip again. … I’ve always loved Miami.”

McLaren capitalized on the extended break to implement a range of upgrades aimed at improving performance. The Florida circuit has been a favorable venue for the team, having won the last two grands prix held there. However, McLaren was not the only team to bring changes to the track, as most teams on the grid introduced new parts in an effort to gain a competitive edge.

Commentator Martin Brundle described the Miami race as a “relaunch of the season” rather than a continuation, emphasizing the significance of the new regulations and the time off.

New Regulations and Testing

Practice sessions on Saturday morning (AEST) provided drivers with their first opportunity to test the changes implemented by the FIA during the break. The governing body introduced adjustments to the regulations after drivers voiced concerns about the impact of electrical battery power on the cars and competition.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari qualified fourth for the sprint race, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Earlier, Verstappen had indicated he had “nothing new” to say regarding his future racing plans, adding that he was not seriously considering quitting F1. The four-time world champion had previously suggested he might walk away after the Japanese Grand Prix in March, citing dissatisfaction with the new regulations.

Verstappen acknowledged the changes made to the regulations for this weekend as “a tickle” of a fix, but emphasized that he had not considered his future due to other commitments, including preparing for the Nordschleife race in Germany.

“I still have time and I’m taking my time,” he said. “The rest, I mean, also for myself, I don’t know at the moment. What I said in Japan is still the same, but I also still have a lot of time.”

Team Changes and Future Uncertainty

Miami marks the first race in five weeks, following the cancellation of two Middle East events due to the war in Iran. During this period, Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase was announced to be leaving for McLaren by 2028 at the latest. The duo had been together since 2016.

Verstappen initially claimed he would not want to work with another race engineer, but has since revised his stance. “Otherwise I don’t get to drive, I will have to work with someone else,” he added. “But I think times change and the offer that he got, I would be an idiot to try and keep him. It’s not only about me all the time, it’s also about his career and moving forward. So for me, it was a no-brainer to be honest. But the future, that’s what we’re looking at now with a different race engineer. I’m sure we’ll find a solution for that as well.”

Full Sprint Qualifying Results

Here are the full results from the Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying: