Norris takes the lead in the middle of the race and wins the first victory in his F-1 career / Diena

For the 24-year-old British pilot Norris, this was the 110th race in his career and previously he had climbed the podium 15 times, but never once on the top step.

Red Bull pilot Max Verstappen, who won the qualification, kept the leading position at the start and was followed by Charles Leclair (Ferrari), who was later overtaken by Oscar Piastri (McLaren), who climbed four positions.

The turning point came midway through the race when Norris was the only one of the leading drivers not to pit and in the lead. At that moment, the safety car was on the track and the Briton used this moment to make a pit stop, thus maintaining the leading position.

In the continuation, the “McLaren” pilot increased his speed and moved away from the second-placed Verstappen, leaving the champion of the last three seasons no hope of victory. Leclair finished third.

The second “Ferrari” driver Carlos Sainz Jr. remained in fourth place, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez was fifth, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished sixth, Yuki Tsunoda (RB) was seventh, George Russell (Mercedes) was eighth, ninth – Fernando Alonso (“Aston Martin”), but Esteban Ocon (“Alpine”) was the last to score – his and the team’s first of the season.

In the second half of the race, Piastri damaged his front fender in the fight with Sains, which forced him to pit again, but the Australian, who finished in 13th place, showed the fastest lap time.

Verstappen is the leader in the World Championship standings with 136 points, Perez is second with 101 points, Leclair is third with 98 points, Sainz has 85 points, and Norris has 83 points.

This season, 24 rounds will be held in the F-1 championship.