Norris thought about trophy lift during F1 race win

Lando Norris of McLaren celebrates with the team after the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami, United States on May 5, 2024. Lando is a 24-year-old white man with short brown hair. He grins, holding his trophy and gold medal. He wears his black racing gear covered in sponsors' logos and an orange cap.Image source, Getty Images
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Lando came first in Miami after missing out on a win in over 100 races

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Lando Norris says he had celebration on his mind before the chequered flag in the Miami Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver won his first ever race in Formula 1, on his 110th attempt, beating reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Despite his track record, he says he knew "by lap 30" he was going to claim first place.

"The last two or three laps, I was really thinking how do I celebrate?" he says.

"I was calm," he told Greg James on the Radio 1 Breakfast show.

He says he spent a long time deciding whether to lift the trophy with his left or right hand - "I was thinking all these things while driving".

"I finally got my first win," he says. "It's been a long time."

Travis Kelce 'the legend'

Lando's celebrations saw him party with Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce, and he says he hopes to one day go to a Kansas City Chiefs game.

"He was an awesome guy," Lando says.

"We exchanged numbers and hopefully I can get to a game one day."

Travis, who reportedly made an appearance at girlfriend Taylor Swift's Paris show this weekend at the start of the European leg of her Eras tour, was "very sweet", Lando added.

"He's about double my height but he was a legend," he says.

Image source, Getty Images
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Lando Norris says he and Travis Kelce exchanged numbers after meeting last week

Lando, from Somerset, was the first person to beat Max Verstappen this season in a race that the Red Bull driver finished.

Carlos Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix in March, with Verstappen retiring in the early stages of that race.

Lando told Radio 1 he's been driving for almost as long as he can remember.

"I started when I was six, with a little go-kart," he says.

"Fast forward to when I'm 13, I fell in love with racing. I realised that Formula 1 is my goal, this is what I want to do when I'm older."

He made his F1 debut in 2018 as McLaren's reserve driver before being announced as a driver proper for the 2019 season.

"There's genuinely a lot of work that goes into trying to achieve [victory]," Lando says.

But after lifting the trophy, he reveals he had to hand it over as it's kept by the team.

"I have to buy a replica," he says.

And although he wouldn't be drawn on how much he spent on a double of his first trophy, Lando indicated it was in the range of £50,000.

"I couldn't tell you how much it cost me," he says.

Lando will next be on the starting grid on Sunday for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy.

It was called off last year due to heavy rain but is set to go ahead as planned this weekend, with Lando hoping to repeat his Miami success.

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