In celebration of his 110th Grand Prix, Norris finally ended his streak of bad luck and secured his first well-deserved triumph. While he did benefit from the intervention of the Safety Car, there is no denying that he was the fastest driver on the field on Sunday. Even Max Verstappen could not match the skills of the British driver when it truly mattered.
During the restart at Turn 1, Norris skillfully defended his position against the Red Bull driver, who had been leading the race until the Safety Car was deployed. Norris then surged ahead to claim victory with a seven-second lead over the reigning World Champion.
Following the race, Norris received praise and admiration from his fellow competitors, Formula 1 team leaders, and others in the industry. Max Verstappen of Red Bull expressed his happiness for Lando, stating that his triumph was long overdue and that there will surely be more victories in his future. Verstappen acknowledged the superior pace of Norris and his team, particularly when they switched to the hard tires, making it incredibly challenging for Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes also congratulated Lando and McLaren, recognizing their exceptional performance and the significance of a first Grand Prix victory. Hamilton, who knows the feeling of achieving this milestone, commended Lando for his well-deserved success.
George Russell, also from Mercedes, joined in the celebration, applauding Lando and McLaren for their achievements. Having competed against Norris for a long time, Russell expressed his confidence in Lando’s abilities and acknowledged the hard work he has put in to reach this point. Russell expressed his happiness for his friend and his belief that Norris would achieve success in Formula 1.
Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, echoed the sentiments of Russell and Hamilton, congratulating Lando and McLaren for their accomplishment. Wolff emphasized Norris’ deserving nature and expressed his certainty that Lando would achieve more victories in the future.
Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin shared his happiness for Lando, recognizing the significance of securing one’s first win in the sport.
Daniel Ricciardo of VCARB, while acknowledging Norris as a rival, congratulated him on his victory and praised his talent. Ricciardo expressed his belief that Lando’s triumph was only a matter of time.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari extended his congratulations to Lando Norris for his first victory, hoping that he fully enjoys this milestone in his career.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari: “He deserves it after waiting for so long to achieve a victory. He’s a driver who will secure numerous wins in Formula 1. He has been performing at an exceptional level. Today, luck was on his side, but luck favors those who deserve it, and today he certainly deserves it.”
Fred Vasseur: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Lando and McLaren because it marks the first win for a driver who is highly regarded in the paddock, and we are delighted for him. It was also a positive outcome for Formula 1 as a whole.”
Jenson Button, 2009 F1 World Champion: “We witnessed his impressive pace when he was closing in on Sainz. The Safety Car certainly provided some assistance, but he was already in the fight. I am incredibly proud of him. It has been a long time coming. It is wonderful to see him standing on the top step. Lando did not make any errors.”
Beyond the F1 world, Norris left a lasting impression on former Indycar and NACAR driver turned occasional TV pundit Danica Patrick: “He possesses an abundance of talent. He carries himself like a champion. He exudes confidence. He is quick, and he has a great sense of humor. You just have a sense that one day he will clinch a championship.
“I am certain that after the ups and downs of the past couple of races, this victory will taste incredibly sweet. It has been a rollercoaster ride, so witnessing him put it all together and seeing that smile on his face, he will become a McLaren legend for a long time,” Patrick reckoned.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren: “It was a fantastic day for the team. Congratulations to Lando and everyone at McLaren. The victory today was well-deserved, and it bodes well for what lies ahead.”
Team Principal Andrea Stella: “The most important aspect is Lando’s victory because he truly deserves it. We have always maintained that once we provide him with the right equipment, he will deliver, and he did just that.
“I am aware of the immense effort that went into this achievement. It is thoroughly deserved for the McLaren team. I hope everyone savors this moment. This victory is dedicated to Gil de Ferran.”
McLaren CEO, Zak Brown: This win has been a long time coming. It is an incredibly popular triumph among the fans and the drivers – numerous drivers approached him to offer their congratulations. He drove flawlessly, and the car was exceptionally fast.
“A significant amount of credit goes to the leadership team. Andrea Stella, our team principal, is everything I could ask for and more. He listens, communicates, thinks deeply, works tirelessly, and demands the best. That is the ethos at the factory. It is all starting to come together,” declared Brown, relishing the second Grand Prix victory for his McLaren team under his stewardship.