Lando Norris says his maiden Formula One win has provided him with the platform to challenge Max Verstappen for the world championship.

Norris ended his losing streak at the 110th attempt in Miami a fortnight ago – celebrating with a 24-hour party that took in two rounds of golf at Augusta National.

Norris trails Verstappen by 53 points after the opening six rounds but, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, he said: ‘Does it give me more hope that I can challenge them (Verstappen and Red Bull)? One hundred per cent.

‘We had an upgrade in Miami and it helped us but even without the upgrade we would have been good there.

‘I know Max sustained damage in the race and people use that as a reason for him not winning but even before that happened we were quicker than him by a huge chunk.

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Lano Norris became a Formula One race winner at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month

Norris says he’s now more confident of challenging Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (pictured)

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Formula One’s new British megastar Lando Norris parties into the early hours then heads to play golf at Augusta after Miami Grand Prix triumph

‘If I am not confident, people say I am not confident enough and if I have a bit of confidence, people say I am over confident. But we are getting closer and closer. And I know as soon as we attack some of the issues we have, we can challenge them.

‘I accept where we are and I think we are the third-best team behind Red Bull and Ferrari but that could change if we have another good weekend here.

‘And I am confident that with our rate of development, which is better than any other team on the grid, by next year we can challenge for wins and, in the big picture, hopefully challenge for the title.’

Norris rearranged his travel plans to stay in Miami an extra night and celebrate becoming the 21st British driver to enter the F1 winner’s circle before jetting 600 miles north to Georgia – the home of the Masters.