Hungarian GP: Lando Norris Wins his Season's First Race In Budapest

 

Lando is the winner of the Hungarian Grix Prix and his first race win of the season, in a wildly contested race, with Oscar Piastri retiring, ending the prospect of a McLaren one-two podium finish. 

McLaren dominated the qualifying session with Norris claiming the pole for the first time this season. They followed their trend this weekend in the final, with Piastri having a provisional pole and Norris in the trail until the Australian was pitted first. Norris took the leap to the front role and held the lead for the remainder of the race. While Piastri later retired over gear failure, Norris finished quickest in1:39:59.180s and his quickest time in Budapest since 2023. 

Ferrari gave the race their best with Lewis Hamilton and gave Max Verstappen a fight in the early stages in a contest for a provisional podium position.  He pitted first to keep their fight on but dropped behind Isack Hadjar, who kept him in the trail before he sped by. Unfortunately for the former F1 champion, he was given a five-second penalty for speeding under the pit lane. Charles Leclerc, who had faced a serious battle with Hamilton, later benefited from the penalty, putting him ahead of his teammate. 

Mercedes' travail continued into the final. Kimi Antonelli seized McLaren's pitting of Piastri to move up to a podium position. He maintained the position through the remainder of the race. Meanwhile, George Russell had improved through the pack. Pitting went well for Antonelli. He came out of the pit lane ahead of Russell and improved to trail Piastri before the Australian suffered a gearbox problem. 

The virtual safety car deployed on Lap 57 cost Hamilton the penalty. Antonelli pitted ahead of him, and Hamilton sped in the pit lane to catch up with Antonelli on the safety car line. Despite giving up the position back to Antonelli,  he was penalised. 

Carlos Sainz's collision with Piastri before the McLaren driver DBF was another eventful moment. Sainz dodged a penalty, and the collision did not cost Piastri his front wheel. However, the F1 championship leader, Antonelli, made the podium and his ninth in eleven Grand Prix. 

Hungarian Grand Prix Top 10

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

7. George Russell (Mercedes)

8. Liam Lawson (RB)

9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

10. Arvid Lindblad (RB)