The McLaren star Lando Norris has confessed that a poorly timed sneeze during the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race left him momentarily blinded, creating a terrifying scare. This unexpected hazard occurred under safety car conditions, where a brief loss of vision could have had severe consequences.### Why it mattersEven in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where drivers face extreme G-forces and make split-second decisions, unexpected everyday occurrences like a sneeze can pose a significant threat. This incident highlights the razor-thin margins of safety and control at play, even at "leisurely" speeds under a safety car.### The incidentNorris described the event on the Quadcast podcast, recalling it happened during the Miami Sprint while the safety car was out following Fernando Alonso's crash. Drivers were moving slowly, but in close proximity.
- "I think it was Miami, it was under safety car. Fernando’s car was in the wall. We were under safety car, under double yellows. So you're going super slow, and you're really close to the guy in front." The moment of panic struck as he felt the sneeze coming:
- "And you know when you just feel it coming? I’m like, ‘Oh my God,’ there’s a car just behind me. And I didn’t even have the reaction to hit the brakes, because your eyes just shut." He feared a rear-end collision, calling it one of the first times such an event had ever happened to him.### The outcomeFortunately, Norris managed to navigate the unexpected challenge without incident. He went on to win the chaotic Sprint race, crossing the finish line under the safety car. This victory was particularly sweet, coming a year after his maiden F1 win at the same circuit. The sneeze, however, might remain one of his most memorable and unusual scares.### What's nextNorris's anecdote serves as a quirky reminder that in Formula 1, even the most mundane human reflex can turn into a high-stakes moment, proving that racing demands constant vigilance against all odds.