Norris secures McLaren’s first win of the year
Lando Norris achieved his and McLaren’s first Grand Prix victory of the year in Hungary. The race saw a close contest for podium positions, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull holding off Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli for second place. Antonelli finished third, extending his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Norris expressed his satisfaction, stating that his pace was among the best he had ever experienced and that the car was enjoyable to drive. His victory was influenced by a strategic decision that reportedly did not please his team-mate, Oscar Piastri.
Piastri initially led for a significant portion of the race but retired from second place due to a gearbox failure on lap 56. This incident led to a late virtual safety car period. McLaren’s upgraded car for Hungary was noted for reviving memories of their dominant victories from the previous year’s championship.
Verstappen’s strategic success and Hamilton’s penalties
Despite expressing dissatisfaction with his car during the race, Verstappen secured second place. Red Bull’s strategy to fit soft tyres during his second pit stop proved effective. This move aimed to challenge Hamilton in the later stages of the race.
Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished fourth but was penalised five seconds for speeding in the pit lane, causing him to drop to fifth behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc. This penalty was Hamilton’s second in two days, following a grid penalty for blocking Piastri in qualifying. He had also received penalties in the two preceding races in Belgium and Britain.
Hamilton received a three-place grid demotion from second place after qualifying for impeding Piastri. This initially placed him behind Antonelli. Antonelli himself later received a three-place demotion for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags when Verstappen spun. These penalties meant Hamilton started fifth and Antonelli seventh, behind Russell.
Hamilton commented on the penalties, stating that it was difficult to maintain positivity after three penalties in three weekends. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur took responsibility for the timing of the information given to Hamilton regarding Piastri during qualifying, stating it was “far too late.”
Isack Hadjar of Red Bull finished sixth, ahead of Russell, who recovered from dropping to 21st place on the first lap. Aston Martin had a positive weekend with their new car, despite not scoring points. Their car upgrade reportedly reduced lap times by approximately two seconds. A Honda engine upgrade is anticipated for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix.
Looking ahead to the Dutch Grand Prix
The Formula 1 season is now on a four-week break before the next event, the Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled from 21-23 August. This will be a sprint event and marks F1’s final visit to Zandvoort as the circuit’s contract concludes this year.
The top ten finishers in the Hungarian Grand Prix were:
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
Source: bbc.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
