Lando Norris‘ emotional British Grand Prix triumph ended with a cut to the nose and the threat of a fine after a freak incident marred his celebrations at Silverstone.
The 25-year-old McLaren star claimed his first-ever home win on Sunday, becoming the first new British driver to win the race since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. But as Norris carried the famous RAC trophy to celebrate with fans, a man in dark clothing and a bright purple baseball cap, who appeared to be holding a camera, fell backwards off the pit wall and crashed into him, pushing Norris into another photographer’s lens.
Footage shows Norris stumbling backwards from the impact, appearing to hit his face before clutching his nose in pain. He was later seen being escorted away by McLaren staff but was able to smile and wave to fans, with the team confirming he suffered only a small cut.
The incident took the edge off a landmark day for Norris, who was reduced to tears after winning a chaotic, rain-hit race ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, cutting Piastri’s lead in the drivers’ standings to just eight points after 12 rounds.
Speaking in his post-race interview, Norris admitted the tension of the final laps had been immense, saying: ‘Your mind just goes pretty blank. Everything you might think before the race, you forget. The main thing is just don’t f*** it up, that’s rule number one.’
Host Jenson Button quickly apologised for the language, with Norris adding: ‘Sorry from me as well.’ The slip could now see Norris fined £4,200 under the FIA’s ‘swearing ban’, which was made a permanent rule this season despite opposition from drivers.
Lando Norris suffered a cut to his nose while celebrating his win at Sunday’s British Grand Prix
The injury was sustained after a man wearing a bright purple cap fell off a wall and onto Norris
Norris could be fined after swearing in an interview following his home victory at Silverstone
An opportunity of a British lifetime opened up for Norris in the most unexpected manner during a rain-punctuated race, handed to him by his previously dominant team-mate Piastri.
It was a chance Norris seized with characteristic composure, winning his home race in front of a 168,000-strong crowd who had painted Silverstone papaya orange beneath their rain ponchos.
It was his fourth victory of the season, completing back-to-back wins and closing the championship gap to Piastri to just eight points. It also fulfilled a childhood dream for the Bristol-born driver, who grew up watching Hamilton and Button dazzle on the same circuit.
Norris was heard over team radio describing the moment as ‘beautiful’ as he crossed the line, saying it was ‘everything I ever wanted to achieve’.
His decisive break came on lap 22, when Piastri, leading comfortably, slowed sharply behind the safety car, catching Max Verstappen off guard and forcing the Dutchman to swerve while exclaiming: ‘Woah, mate. F***. He suddenly slowed down.’
The stewards swiftly handed Piastri a ten-second penalty, reducing his lead over Norris to 3.6 seconds. Norris kept his composure and closed the gap to just over a second with ten laps remaining, needing only to remain within range to claim victory.
It had not looked likely to be Norris’ day early on. He started third behind Piastri and Verstappen, with Piastri’s McLaren proving the quicker car in the wet conditions. But a combination of rain showers, two virtual safety cars and two full safety cars kept the race alive, culminating in a decisive safety car following a collision between Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli.
Sunday’s race saw Norris become the first home winner of the British Grand Prix since 2008
McLaren crew members pictured celebrating as Norris crossed the finish line at Silverstone
Norris grasped his opportunity, taking the flag to become only the 13th British driver to win the race and to lift the gold Grand Prix Trophy, joining names such as Sir Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell and Hamilton.
He said: ‘This is where it all started for me, and now thankfully I’ve been able to have my go. The support from the fans made the difference today, so I’ve got to thank them for it all.’
Norris added: ‘The last few laps I was just looking into the crowd. I was just trying to take it all in, enjoy the moment, because it might never happen again. I hope it does. But these are memories that I’ll bring with me forever.’
Elsewhere, Hulkenberg secured a fairytale first podium at the 239th attempt, finishing third for Sauber after starting 19th, while Hamilton, in his first British Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver, showed flashes of brilliance before a late mistake left him fourth. George Russell finished 10th, while rookie Ollie Bearman came home 11th for Haas, surviving the chaos on a day that belonged to Norris.
