Lando Norris is gearing up for a scrap at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, starting second behind Max Verstappen, but he’s not banking on a repeat of their Suzuka duel from April 16. The McLaren driver, fresh off a strong qualifying session on May 3, sounded optimistic yet cautious, eyeing the unique challenges of Miami’s street circuit as a chance to shake things up.
In Japan, Norris trailed Verstappen across the finish line, struggling to overtake on a track notorious for low tire wear and scarce passing zones. Miami, he reckons, is a different beast. The circuit boasts three DRS zones and beefy braking areas, especially into Turn 1, where Norris plans to make a bold move right off the line. He’s got the inside line, a tactical edge that could see him challenge Verstappen’s Red Bull before the race settles into its rhythm.
Norris, who’s been dogged by tough outings in Bahrain and Jeddah earlier this season, was upbeat after securing second on the grid. The 25-year-old Brit noted the track’s layout favors overtaking more than Suzuka’s tight, flowing corners. But he’s not just watching Verstappen. Kimi Antonelli and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri have been nipping at his heels all weekend, setting the stage for a bruising battle come race day on May 4.
The Miami Grand Prix, now in its third year, has drawn massive crowds and high stakes, with teams tweaking setups to handle the circuit’s mix of long straights and technical sections. Norris’s McLaren showed pace in practice, and his qualifying lap was just a whisker off Verstappen’s pole time. Still, he’s keeping expectations in check, aware that Red Bull’s race pace could be a handful.
Verstappen, the reigning champion, clinched pole with a blistering lap, but McLaren’s tire management has been a talking point. Unlike Red Bull, Ferrari, and others grappling with graining issues, McLaren’s data suggests they’re in a sweet spot for Sunday’s 57-lap grind. Norris hopes this edge, paired with Miami’s overtaking-friendly design, will let him pressure Verstappen in a way Suzuka never allowed.
The race kicks off on May 4, with Norris starting second, Verstappen on pole, and Antonelli and Piastri in third and fourth.