Norris won the race by seven seconds, thanks to a strategic pit stop he made while the safety car was out, unlike his competitors, due to a crash between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant.
Verstappen, who had won the last two Miami GPs, had already made his pit stop when the safety car came out. He also caused a virtual safety car earlier by hitting a bollard, affecting his car’s ability to turn.
Verstappen admitted it was only the second time he had lost in 2024, the first being in Australia due to a brake problem. He said, “I mean, you win, you lose. Today was just a bit tricky. I think already on the mediums, I didn’t feel fantastic.”
Verstappen acknowledged McLaren’s impressive performance, especially Lando Norris, who was “flying” on the track. He expressed happiness for Norris, predicting more wins for him in the future.
Responding to whether McLaren’s upgraded car reflected its true pace, Verstappen said, “I hope not! They came with an upgrade. So, we have a bit of work to do from our side.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished third, praised Norris for his outstanding performance throughout the weekend. Leclerc said, “I’m really happy for Lando. He deserves it. Often, he arrived very close to it but for one reason or another he didn’t make it, but today he did an incredible job.”
