Donald Trump congratulates Lando Norris following his stunning Miami Grand Prix victory... after presidential candidate toured McLaren's garage
- The former president toured the McLaren garage before the race started
- Lando Norris went on to win his first ever grand prix down in Miami
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Former President of the United States Donald Trump was spotted talking to McLaren driver Lando Norris moments after his first ever grand prix victory in Miami.
Images show the former President and current Republican Party frontrunner clad in a 'Make America Great Again' hat and talking to the driver.
It's not exactly clear what Trump said to Norris, but earlier in the day, the 45th President was spotted getting a tour of the McLaren garage and talking to team CEO Zak Brown.
A statement from McLaren read: 'McLaren is a non-political organization however we recognize and respect the office of President of the United States so when the request was made to visit our garage on race day we accepted alongside the president of the FIA and the CEO’s of Liberty Media and Formula 1.
'We were honored that McLaren Racing was chosen as the representative of F1 which gave us the opportunity to showcase the world class engineering that we bring to motorsport.'
![Former President Donald Trump was seen congratulating Lando Norris after his F1 victory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/05/23/84489035-13385567-image-m-39_1714948606334.jpg)
Former President Donald Trump was seen congratulating Lando Norris after his F1 victory
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/05/23/84483949-13385567-image-a-35_1714948310293.jpg)
Trump speaks with McLaren CEO Zak Brown as he visits the McLaren garage before the race
![Norris won his first ever Formula One grand prix at the Miami International Autodrome](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/05/23/84489039-13385567-image-a-36_1714948315449.jpg)
Norris won his first ever Formula One grand prix at the Miami International Autodrome
Trump's appearance at the Miami Grand Prix comes after organizers halted his plans for a fundraiser because he violated the terms of his hospitality suite agreement by planning to raise money for a federal election.
The ex-President's friend Steven Witkoff, who recently testified on Trump's behalf in New York, purchased the suite in his name for the purposes of operating the fundraiser.
'It has come to our attention that you may be using your Paddock Club Rooftop Suite for a political purpose, namely raising money for a federal election at $250,000 per ticket, which clearly violates the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix suite license agreement,' read a cease and desist letter.
'If this is true, we regret to inform you that your suite license will be revoked, you will not be allowed to attend the race at any time, and we will refund you in full.'
Race officials did not offer a comment on the story publicly, while Witkoff told the New York Post 'this is something fake, for sure,' but declined to comment any further.
As for the race itself, Lando Norris ran a perfectly executed race strategy which included a well-timed pit stop while the safety car was out for fresh hard tires.
That allowed him to build a lead on Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who finished second - but 7.6 seconds behind Norris.
It's the first time that Norris has won a Formula One race - a maiden victory which he hopes will be the first of many to come.