the madszine

McLaren fans all over the world sat silently, papaya flags clutched to their chests, hands interlocked, eyes closed, watching through their fingers, or pacing their living rooms. I was pacing my living room. My partner who enjoys cars but cares little for Formula 1 was cooking dinner behind me.

‘Who’s winning?’ he asked casually, dicing a carrot into equal pieces.

‘Lando Norris,’ I replied incredulously, feeling like if I vocalised it out loud the events of Sochi 2021 would repeat themselves in front of my eyes.

‘Yes,’ I didn’t take my eyes off the screen.

There’s a sort of fear that many drivers have voiced about the knowledge that, just behind you, is Max Verstappen in a Redbull. As I sat staring at the birds eye view of the track, watching the little orange dot labelled NORRIS making its way round each turn, each lap, while the little navy blue dot labelled VERSTAPPEN pursued it I got a pretty good idea of the fear they were talking about.
However, as each lap rolled by Lando looked stronger and stronger, the papaya chassis flew by without a wobble, and the gap to Verstappen began to open up.

---

Adding in a well-timed safety car curtesy of Logan Sargent, and a reasonably cool, calm, and collected Norris on the radio hope began to warm the long frozen idea in the back of every viewers’ mind.
The impossible began to creep tantalisingly towards the possible.
McLaren’s first win since 2021 (and before that 2012) rushed towards the checkered flag at 200mph.

It was the 56th lap (56/57), with an over 7 second gap to Verstappen, before all at once I believed it. The revelation came so suddenly that I said it out loud. 

‘Max can’t catch up 7 seconds in 1 lap, not even in a Redbull,’ I murmured more to myself than to anyone else.

‘No I’d imagine not,’ replied my partner, who had stopped his chopping to glance at the race over my shoulder.

‘Oh my god,’ I said, ‘Lando Norris is going to win the Miami Grand Prix!’

I didn’t scream when he won, I couldn’t get a sound out, I watched as he ran to his team and was lifted into the air like he was champion of the world, his joy was infectious – a warmth that I felt even through the screen. I think for a moment it almost felt like he was. I randomly wondered in the midst of all my joy, jubilation, and delight that if Lando had known he was going to win his first Formula 1 Grand Prix that Sunday whether he would’ve taken better care of his nose. Knowing what little I imagine I know of Lando – probably not.

‘Cause here’s the thing though, the iconic photo of him looking up at the sky on the podium with the biggest goofiest smile on his face will remain plastered across McLaren HQ and the F1 news and world for years to come – but somehow despite the shiny trophy and the bright sunshine and the flashy Miami colours – the thing that stands out to me is the remains of the plaster on his nose. The smallest signifier that the man who beat Max Verstappen in a Redbull was human.