2024 Miami Grand Prix winner Lando Norris (McLaren), second-placed Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing), and third-placed Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) were featured in the race.
Q: Lando Norris, how does it feel to be a winner in the F1 Grand Prix?
Lando NORRIS: Oh wow. Finally, right? Man, what a race! It’s been a long time coming, but I’m thrilled for my entire team. I finally delivered for them. It was a tough race, but being on top feels amazing.
Q: Your race wasn’t the easiest, starting fifth and dropping to sixth before fighting your way through. You had some luck with the Safety Car, but your pace was dominant at the end. You must be proud.
LN: I am. The whole weekend has been good. We had the pace on Friday, just a few mistakes here and there. But today, we put it all together. The strategy worked perfectly, and it paid off. I want to thank McLaren and everyone involved. I also want to give a shout-out to my parents.
Q: Do you have a message for your team, McLaren, who you’ve been with for a couple of years and have grown into a race winner with?
LN: What can I say? I’m just proud. Many people doubted me along the way, but today we proved them wrong. I stuck with McLaren because I believed in them, and today showed why.
Q: This victory must be a memory you’ll cherish forever.
LN: Absolutely. Thank you so much.
Q: Max, this is the first time you’ve been beaten on track in over 20 races. How does it feel?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Winning and losing are part of racing. Today was a bit tricky. The Medium tires didn’t feel great, and the McLarens were really quick. Lando did an incredible job, and he deserved this win. It’s not going to be his last one.
Q: What was wrong with the balance of your car?
MV: I had understeer and oversteer, and the grip was low on all four wheels. We need to understand why.
Q: Does McLaren’s strong pace make you think they can challenge you more often?
MV: They came with upgrades that clearly worked. We have work to do from our side. This wasn’t our strongest weekend, but we’ll analyze everything and come back stronger.
Q: Charles, it was an up and down race for you. Can you talk about the incident at the start with Checo?
Charles LECLERC: It was tricky. Checo was on my inside, and I had a bad start with wheel spin. Fortunately, we all made it through the first corner without damage. We did our best, but we were missing a bit of pace. Overall, we should be satisfied with third place.
Q: Normally being a few seconds behind Max is a good result, but with Lando’s strong performance, it’s a surprise.
CL: I’m really happy for Lando. He deserves it. I knew McLaren would be strong, but they were even stronger than expected. We need to bring upgrades quickly and catch up.
Q: Lando, congratulations on your first win. How did it feel to be on the top step of the podium?
LN: It felt incredible. The whole team was there, and the crowd was amazing. It’s hard to put into words, but I was just happy and smiling. It’s a moment I’ve dreamed of, and it finally came true.
Q: Does this victory feel like a weight off your shoulders?
LN: Yes, definitely. Getting that first win is always special. I’ve had moments where I was close but couldn’t convert it into a win. But I never lost faith. I knew my time would come, and today proved that.
Q: Max, can you talk about being beaten by Lando for the first time in a long while?
MV: Winning and losing are part of racing. Lando deserved this win, and I’m happy for him. He was incredibly quick, and it’s not going to be his last win.
Q: Were you surprised by Lando’s pace today?
MV: I didn’t see him in the beginning, but his pace on the used Mediums was impressive. I knew I had to push hard to keep him behind when he got on fresh tires.
Q: Lando, can you talk about the Safety Car restart and the pressure from Max?
LN: The restart was a bit rusty for me, but I managed to defend well into Turn 1. Once I saw Max wasn’t in clean air, I knew I had the advantage. I pushed initially, but then I could relax a bit and control the gap.
Q: Max, did you feel any damage from hitting the cone at Turn 15?
MV: I didn’t feel any difference in the car, so I’m not sure if there was any damage.
Q: Lando, do you think McLaren could have won without the free pit stop, given your strong pace on the Hard tires?
LN: It would have been tough. I would have had to overtake several cars, including two Ferraris and a Red Bull. Oscar was doing a great job, so it would have been challenging.
Q: Lando, can you talk about the meme culture and the “Lando No-wins” narrative?
LN: People can say what they want. I’ve always had respect for my competitors, and I’ve always believed in myself. I’m glad to prove those who doubted me wrong. It’s a great feeling.
Q: Lando, how did it feel to have Donald Trump in the garage before the race?
LN: I didn’t see him in the garage, but he congratulated me after the race. It’s an honor to have someone like him acknowledge my achievement.
Q: Lando, can you enjoy this as the greatest moment of your career?
LN: Absolutely. It’s a full glass moment for me. I’ve always enjoyed my successes, and this is a special one. It’s the result of hard work and eliminating my weaknesses.