Lando Norris secured a long-awaited first Formula 1 race win at the Miami Grand Prix on what was his 110th start in the sport. While the Briton had to be patient for his debut victory, other drivers have faced an even longer wait to stand on the top step of the podium. Just ask some of the names below…
10: Mika Hakkinen – 96 races – First win 1997 European Grand Prix
It might seem surprising to see the name of a double world champion in this list, but Hakkinen’s first win actually only arrived in the year before he claimed his inaugural title. After making his F1 debut with Lotus in 1991, the Finn switched to McLaren in 1993, and by 1997 looked on course to finally clinch a victory.
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Nine rounds into the campaign, Hakkinen seemed to be on the way to his first win in the British Grand Prix, but an engine failure on Lap 52 of 59 forced him to retire from the lead.
His wait continued until the season-closing European Grand Prix at Jerez; while this race is perhaps better known for a controversial collision between Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher, it was also the scene of Hakkinen’s debut victory in the sport on his 96th race start.
News Summary:
- IN NUMBERS: The 10 longest waits for a debut win in F1 history
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