McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris has just won his first race, beating Max Verstappen to do so. [Image: McLarenF1 X]

McLaren race driver Lando Norris, a fan favorite among F1 fans, has finally secured his maiden win in the sport. Not only has he secured his first win in five years and 110 races, but the Englishman also defied the odds to do just that. He was priced at +1800 to win the Miami GP before the race.

Max Verstappen was the firm favorite going into the Miami GP this weekend. The Dutch racer is hunting his third consecutive Championship with Red Bull and won every race that he finished at the start of this season. As a result, sportsbooks priced him at -700 to win in Miami too, odds that seemed even more fitting when he claimed a first-place grid start.

McLaren had made the right call in letting him run long before his first pit stop

In stepped Norris to turn that on its head, however. The 24-year-old was running sixth in the opening stages of the race until a conveniently timed safety car proved McLaren had made the right call in letting him run long before his first pit stop. Norris was able to pit stop and then gain the lead but still had 24 laps to finish.

Although many anticipated Verstappen, in his famously quick RB20, would close down Norris. But instead, Norris gradually pulled away from the reigning champion. Norris ended the race with a dominant 7.6-second margin to Verstappen in second, finally shedding his record of the most podium finishes without a win (15).

The win puts Norris fourth in the driver standings with 83 points. Verstappen remains top with 33 more points than second place Sergio Perez, his Red Bull teammate. Ferrari man Charles Leclerc makes up the top three with 98 points.