Norris Claims First F1 Victory as Verstappen Acknowledges Impressive Performance

Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver for Red Bull Racing, expressed his surprise at the impressive lap times achieved by Lando Norris during the Miami Grand Prix. Verstappen admitted that he couldn’t keep up with Norris’ pace, especially with worn tires. Despite starting on pole position, Verstappen fell behind Norris after the McLaren driver made a pit stop during a Safety Car period. In the end, Norris secured his first victory in Formula 1, finishing 6.7 seconds ahead of Verstappen. The Dutch driver acknowledged Norris’ well-deserved win and reflected on the emotions associated with achieving the first victory in the sport. Verstappen also confessed that even if he had maintained his position on the track, it would have been challenging to keep Norris behind due to his impressive lap times on old tires. He praised Norris’ performance and admitted that McLaren showed impressive pace throughout the race. Verstappen acknowledged that the balance of his own car was below ideal, leading to a lack of grip and difficulties in finding the right balance between low and high-speed corners. Despite the challenges, Verstappen was satisfied with second place.