While Max Verstappen was the winner once again, he was chased to the flag in a thrilling climax by Lando Norris providing definitive evidence that the world champion will not have it all his own way this season.
Formula One has been a tough sell these past two years, Verstappen romping to the championship all but unchallenged last season and the opening meetings of 2024 were more of the same - a Groundhog Day narrative that was becoming somewhat stale until McLaren and Norris arrived at the last round in Miami to breathe invigorating life into what was becoming a torpid season.
Norris won in Florida and here at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari he hounded Verstappen for the final eight laps of the race, hurling his McLaren at the track and his rival, with thrilling verve and tenacity in as exciting a fight F1 has seen since the new regulations were imposed in 2022. When the flag fell, Verstappen had a lead of just 0.7sec on Norris, a mere bagatelle between them as they hurtled across the line.
That Norris could not make the pass was irrelevant. Most of the race had been following the Punxsutawney Phil script, Verstappen comfortable from pole, with a six second lead, but when his tyres began to go off - and Norris's rubber came good, having eased them into the stint early on racing broke out with almost explosive exhilaration.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Carse gives thanks after England return
Brydon Carse has expressed his thanks to the \"incredibly supportive\" England setup after his rapid reintegration following his ban, and hopes to repay the faith shown in him, first in the remaining one-day internationals against Australia and then in the Test series in Pakistan that follows immediately.
Evenepoel and Brown win races against time once more
The double Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel successfully defended the world time trial title he won in last year's World Road Championships in Glasgow, with victory in this year's event in Zurich.
All or nothing Manchester City should either be vindicated or damned by hearing
Let's start by going back to December 2016.
Pylons v property Why disputed power lines may not hit house prices
The village of Beauly, near Inverness, marks the starting point of what was once Britain's largest and most controversial power grid project: a 137-mile electricity superhighway from the quiet Highlands village to a large substation in Denny near Falkirk.
Losses from obesity higher than weight loss jab costs
Rising healthcare costs and productivity losses from the global obesity crisis far outstrip the cost of new weight-loss drugs, according to a report, which also calls on governments to prioritise prevention by promoting a healthy diet.
Diesel and petrol prices fall at fastest rate since December
The price of petrol and diesel in the UK is falling at the fastest pace this year, with households paying about £4 less to fill up a family car than they did a month ago.
Tech firms must help refund victims of fraud, says HSBC
HSBC has thrown its weight behind calls for tech firms to pay up for fraud, saying incoming compensation rules requiring banks to reimburse scam victims up to £85,000 will fail to stem the flow of fraud, and prove that the financial sector is not the problem.
Succession drama Fox News fate at stake as Murdochs take family shares to court
One family succession battle is gripping the media and dominating water cooler conversations at the New York headquarters of Fox News.
Leftist Dissanayake wins Sri Lankan presidential election after historic runoff
A Marxist leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has won Sri Lanka's presidential election, in what is being seen as a widespread rejection of the old political elite blamed for the country's continuing economic woes.
Gaza Seven killed in Israeli airstrike on school shelter
Seven people were killed yesterday after an Israeli airstrike hit a school housing displaced people in western Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said, amid fears that Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis might be forgotten as tensions boil between Hezbollah and Israel.