Five things we learned at Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris’ win will boost Formula 1 in U.S.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lando Norris let out a “Wooooo!” so loud, Ric Flair would be proud.

Norris won the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday – his first win in Formula One after 110 races. And the 24-year-old McLaren driver with a cheeky smile couldn’t wait to celebrate before his flight back home to England on Monday.

“I’m not going to sleep. I’m going all the way,” Norris said with a smile. “It’s nice to do it in Miami. I wish it was Silverstone (England).”

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Max Verstappen, the three-time F1 champion who stunningly finished second despite winning the pole and Saturday’s Sprint race, quickly chimed in.

“Trust me, it’s better here, mate, to go out,” Verstappen said of Miami with a smile after the second race this F1 season someone other than him was victorious.

Here are five things we learned after the 2024 Miami Grand Prix:

Other F1 drivers’ happiness for Norris is welcomed sight

It’s been 1,876 days since Norris’ made his F1 debut. He can no longer be trolled by the nickname “Lando No-Wins” anymore. And you can only imagine the relief he feels being on the cusp of victory like he has recently.

Norris had six second-place finishes in 2023. He even entered the Miami race after a second-place finish last weekend in China.

Despite coming up short themselves, other F1 drivers genuinely praised Norris for breaking through.

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“It will forever be one of the happiest days of his life. I’m happy to see that smile on him,” Daniel Riccardo said of Norris.

“He’s talented. And obviously all of us here are. But he’s been so close, so many times. We all felt at some point, he’s the next driver in line who deserves a win … We know he belongs on the top step at some point, and I’m happy he got his day.”

Added Verstappen: “I’m very happy for Lando. It’s been a long-time coming. And it’s not going to be his last one. He definitely deserves it today.”

Runner-up Max Verstappen (left) and third-place finisher Charles Leclerc (right) spray champagne on race winner Lando Norris after Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix.

Norris’ Miami win brings intrigue to all of F1, not just U.S. fans

Norris’ win isn’t just great for aspiring Formula One fans in the United States weary of Verstappen’s recent dominance, but everyone in F1.

Fans watching may have been wondering if Verstappen, on a tear with 38 wins in 50 races before Sunday, would chase down Norris.

Verstappen nearly had the three-peat, both this weekend and after victories in the first two Miami races at the Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium.

Instead, the race and its outcome provided intrigue, excitement, Miami vibes, and reiterated F1’s push in the states with the first of three races this year.

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Two more U.S. races remain: the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas (Oct. 18-20) and the Las Vegas Grand Prix (Nov. 21-23).

“I think everybody in the world wants to see a bit of variety [of winners], and today is a great day for Formula One in that sense,” said Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who won the Australian Grand Prix in late March.

Speaking of variety, three U.S. races aren’t the same at all

It’s the second year F1 will have three races in the U.S. Yet, one common theme hard for some to embrace is the differences Miami, Austin and Vegas bring to F1 and fans from all over the world.

There’s a literal night and day difference between the Las Vegas and Miami races: Vegas boasts a 10 p.m. PT start Saturday night like a pay-per-view prized fight to appeal European fans, while being closer to Asia. Miami is a gateway to the Americas with a Sunday afternoon race where clouds and sunshine make the Miami Dolphins’ aqua pop on TV screens a day after the Kentucky Derby. And Austin has been seen as a traditional event for racing purists.

But seeing F1 in person is believing.

“Having been around auto racing a very long time now, I’ve never watched a race on television with someone and been able to turn them into a fan. I’ve never taken someone to an event, and not turn them into a fan,” Miami Dolphins CEO and Miami Grand Prix managing partner Tom Garfinkel said.

“I think a lot of times people will come to an event like this may not know much about the racing. They come for a great event. And then they learn about it, and fall in love with racing and start watching TV. So, I think it’s all great for Formula One. It’s the highest form of motorsport and having three races in the United States is fantastic.”

Miami races boast sellout crowd and place on F1 calendar

Garfinkel announced the Miami Grand Prix sold out tickets for the third straight year with at least 275,000 people in attendance during the Friday-Sunday race weekend.

The race has seven more years in an original 10-year deal, but Garfinkel said “We’ll be here a long time. I would expect us to be here past the 10 years.”

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton’s response when asked if the Vegas race last year “diminished” excitement for Sunday’s Miami race provided further proof the U.S. races have resonated on the F1 calendar.

“Diminished?” Hamilton responded. “No, I think the sport’s got bigger here. It’s got a lot more awareness. Every city that I go to, people are excited. It’s now a sport here in the States. Before, it was just an event that arrived once a year.

“Now, we’re a part of the culture here, which is really cool. It’s been amazing. I think all of us are super grateful for the U.S. finally embracing this sport, and having the love and passion for it that we all have grown up with.”

How much has F1 race raised Miami Dolphins’ value?

USA TODAY reported Dolphins owner Stephen Ross fielded a $10 billion offer for the team, Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami Grand Prix, leading up to the third race. But the NFL team isn’t for sale.

Garfinkel, Ross’ right-hand man when it comes to the Dolphins and F1 race, flexed this statement for his owner and the value of the NFL team when asked about the report.

“I know, unequivocally, the team is not for sale. The control piece of the team, I think the price could be much higher than $10 billion, and the team wouldn’t sell,” Garfinkel said.

As the value of sports franchises worldwide continue to reach new heights, the Dolphins have separated themselves from the pack with their F1 race.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five things we learned at Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris’ win will boost Formula 1 in U.S.