(Motorsports news) After 110 grand prix starts and sixteen podium finishes, driver Ryan Norris of McLaren secured his first Formula One victory on Sunday by virtue of the safety car period that ensued after an accident involving Logan Sargeant of Williams and Kevin Magnussen of Haas.
Before the safety car was brought out, Norris’s primary competitors started their one and only pit stops while he was in fourth place.
Because Max Verstappen, the early leader, was hindered by the safety car, the McLaren driver, who was leading after his competitors had stopped, was able to pit and resume in first place.
Another driver who did not profit from the safety car was Sainz of Ferrari, who believed he “could have won” the race if he had pitted a lap later.
But the Spaniard insisted that Norris’s victory was still justified because the Ferrari driver thought the Brion was well-deserved despite the “lucky” conditions.
“I think luck comes to the guys who deserve it,” Sainz stated. “Lando is among those individuals who merited a small amount of fortune this weekend to secure his maiden race victory.
“We drivers know who is driving at the level to win races and who deserves to win.” Furthermore, as everyone knows, Lando has been racing to win. We’re all thrilled for him when he ultimately succeeds,” Sainz continued.
Sainz, who drove alongside Norris for McLaren in 2019 and 2020, claimed that his opponent and friend had been driving like a race winner for some time.
This year, Norris has placed on the podium twice, including a second-place showing in the Chinese Grand Prix.
“In F1, there’s just this luck factor that Lando got and won a race,” Sainz stated. “However, he has been driving like a race winner for a very long time now. And he truly deserves to triumph. There’s no luck, no matter what.
“He has won a race. And it was high time it arrived for him.
“And people just need to accept that when you don’t have the best car, sometimes you need a bit of luck.”
Without the free pit stop, Norris acknowledged in the press conference following the race that it would have been challenging to win: “It would have been tough.” I would have needed to pass Oscar [Piastri], a Red Bull, and two Ferraris.”
The three-time winner Verstappen, who finished second to Norris in Miami, cut off the British driver and said, “You know, it’s always if, if, if, right? My mother would be my father if she had balls.
“Well, that’s just the way racing works. It doesn’t always work out for you, but occasionally it does.”
