Lando Norris beats Max Verstappen at Miami GP to finally win first F1 race in stunning style

Lando Norris finally tasted victory in Formula 1 at the 110th attempt as he proved at the Miami Grand Prix that Max Verstappen is not invincible.

Yes, he got a huge slice of luck from the safety car as it came out after Verstappen had pitted for fresh tyres. But he took full advantage and beat the Red Bull for pace in his upgraded McLaren.

It is the first time Verstappen has been beaten in a race he has finished since last year's Singapore Grand Prix, won by Carlos Sainz. And Norris ' success will give everyone on the grid, not just himself, the confidence of knowing that Red Bull can be beaten in a straight fight.

McLaren were showing good pace but Verstappen led the race fairly comfortably for the first half. Norris inherited the lead temporarily after the Dutchman, along with Norris' team-mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, pitted for new tyres.

But he was able to grab a cheap pitstop when Kevin Magnussen took out home hero Logan Sargeant at half distance. The Williams was buried into the barrier which required work from the marshals and so the race was neutralised, presenting the Briton with his chance.

He would have been worried when the safety car picked up Verstappen instead of him - the whole pack had to be let through so that Norris could be the lead car before the race could get going again. And that presented everyone behind him with the chance to light up their tyres.

But he still had the grip to hold off Verstappen when the green flags were waved. And once he had made sure of the lead he never looked back, breaking the DRS barrier in time to make sure the Red Bull wasn't able to open its rear wing.

Previous experience left everyone feeling it may be inevitable that Verstappen would close in. But as each lap ticked by the gap between them grew rather than shrunk - Norris was in the groove and the championship leader was getting flustered.

He hasn't been happy with the grip he was getting from the rear end of his car all weekend. And he was again on the radio complaining about the balance of his car, as it dawned on him that he was going to be beaten.

With 10 laps left, Norris' had stretched out his advantage to five seconds. And with each completed trip around the Miami track he was making it more and more comfortable, before letting out a cheer of equal parts elation and relief as he finally achieved his boyhood dream and became a Formula 1 race winner.