Norris takes victory at Hungaroring
Lando Norris secured his first Grand Prix win of the year in Hungary, bringing McLaren to the top of the rostrum. He earned both pole position and the victory after a challenging race. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, initially took the lead in the second corner, but Norris ultimately emerged victorious. Piastri’s race was affected by a collision with a backmarker and a subsequent gearbox issue, leading to his retirement.
Norris expressed confidence in his pace throughout the race, stating it was some of the best he had shown. He overcame an early setback when he slid wide in Turn 2, allowing Piastri to take the lead. Despite several off-track moments, Norris maintained his belief in his ability to win. His strategy, including an overcut, allowed him to get ahead of Piastri and extend his lead.
Max Verstappen finished in second place, despite reporting issues with his Red Bull car throughout the weekend. He executed a notable overtake on Lewis Hamilton during the race. Kimi Antonelli completed the podium in third place.
Antonelli extends championship lead
Antonelli’s third-place finish allowed him to extend his lead in the standings over Hamilton and George Russell. This achievement came despite Ferrari showing strength in Budapest, while Mercedes faced difficulties. Antonelli had received a grid drop on Saturday, and Russell experienced a water leak during qualifying, followed by an anti-stall issue that caused him to drop positions at the start of the race.
Russell, who finished seventh after dropping to 21st, described his result as “s***” but noted that aspects he could control were “just OK.” He also faced engine damage after running over kerbs, requiring a new power unit for race day. The Mercedes team, which had dominated earlier in the season, appeared to be off the pace in Hungary.
Ferrari also experienced a challenging weekend, with Charles Leclerc finishing fourth and Hamilton fifth. Hamilton received a penalty for speeding in the pit lane, which was deemed a competitive advantage. Leclerc’s qualifying was impacted by a deleted lap time due to track limits.
Other notable performances
Aston Martin showed progress with both cars finishing closer to the top 10 than in previous races, attributed to a significant upgrade package. Nico Hulkenberg secured ninth place, while Liam Lawson finished eighth and Arvid Lindblad tenth for Racing Bulls.
Carlos Sainz of Williams was involved in an incident with Piastri while being lapped. Sainz received a five-second penalty, which Piastri felt was insufficient given the impact on his race. Sainz’s team had informed him of Piastri’s approach, but his position on the track limited his visibility.
Cadillac experienced a difficult weekend with both cars retiring. Valtteri Bottas retired due to brake issues, despite the team introducing new brake ducts to address this problem. Sergio Perez’s retirement was due to an internal issue that is yet to be fully diagnosed.
The Hungarian Grand Prix marked the end of the first part of the 2026 F1 season before the summer break.
Source: formula1.com
