(CNN) — Lando Norris surprised the competitors and won the Miami Grand Prix as celebrities flocked to Florida for the third edition of the race this Sunday.
The McLaren driver finished 7.6 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in second place. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium with a third place finish.
From left to right: the Dutch Red Bull Racing driver, Max Verstappen; British McLaren driver Lando Norris and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc take the podium after the Formula One Grand Prix at the International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 5, 2024. (Photo: JIM WATSON/ AFP via Getty Images).
It was Norris’s first victory in his career. The 24-year-old driver is the 21st from the UK to win a Formula 1 race, according to the broadcast.
“I guess that’s how it’s done. Finally,” Norris said over his team radio at the end of the race.
The Miami Grand Prix has quickly become one of the most popular events on the Formula 1 calendar and is now as entertaining for celebrities off the track as it is racing on it.
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, singers Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran and Kansas City Chiefs star duo Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were among the celebrities who attended the Miami International Speedway during the week of the race. Former US President Donald Trump was also among those at the track on race day.
This year’s attendance at the Miami Grand Prix was 275,000 people for the entire race weekend, according to Formula 1. In 2022, attendance was 230,000 people.
Norris started the race in fifth place, but quickly rose through the ranks to lead the field.
British McLaren driver Lando Norris is thrown into the air as his team celebrates their victory at the 2024 Miami Formula One Grand Prix. (Photo: GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
The young driver seemed to be in complete control of the proceedings, despite his inexperience in closing a race in the first place.
“It’s about time, huh? What a race! It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally been able to do it. I’m very happy for my entire team, I finally delivered for them,” Norris added when speaking to F1 after the race.
“I’m very happy for Lando, it was a long time coming, and it won’t be the last,” Verstappen said of his competitor after the race.
The next F1 season heads to Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with the race weekend starting on May 17.
