The first was Max Verstappen, whom Norris became the first to defeat in a straight fight this year. George Russell of Mercedes, two-time champion Fernando Alonso, third-place finisher Charles Leclerc, and more drivers soon followed.
The list was lengthy by the end of the afternoon. Not only was this a well-deserved triumph for a well-liked driver, but it also seemed to take far too long to arrive.
He had the all-time record for most podium finishes without a victory going into the Miami weekend.
Then, as seemed inevitable, some people started to seriously question whether Norris would ever reach the top step. It was only those who failed to acknowledge Norris’s talents that cast doubt on him.
Norris remarked, “I knew my time was coming, so I wasn’t worried.”
