Lando Norris claimed his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, driving for McLaren. The win marked McLaren’s first of the year, with Norris delivering a commanding performance at the Hungaroring.
The race saw an early battle between Norris and his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. Norris, who started from pole position, lost the lead to Piastri on the opening lap. Piastri had a strong start and capitalized on Norris going wide at the second turn to take track position on a circuit known for challenging overtaking opportunities.
Despite Piastri holding the lead through the first round of pit stops, Norris maintained strong pace. He expressed frustration over the team radio, believing he was faster and asking if he could pit first. McLaren ultimately pitted Piastri just before the halfway point of the 70-lap Hungarian Grand Prix, while Norris remained on track.
Norris’s strategy to extend his stint on older tires proved effective, as he slightly outpaced Piastri. Piastri encountered misfortune when attempting to lap Williams’ Carlos Sainz, resulting in minor contact. Sainz reportedly did not see Piastri at Turn 2, impeding the Australian driver.
Norris pitted on Lap 39, emerging ahead of his teammate. He then dominated the remainder of the race, opening up a significant lead. Piastri, who was running in second place, later retired on lap 56 due to a gearbox issue. This incident prompted a late Virtual Safety Car with 14 laps remaining.
Race Incidents and Penalties
The race also featured other notable events, including a battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull pitted Verstappen a lap after Ferrari’s Hamilton to cover the stop, but Hamilton’s out-lap was rapid, including a pass on Arvid Lindblad. Verstappen, however, retook the position with a move into Turn 1 a lap later.
Ferrari made a strategic decision to pit Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from second and fifth positions, respectively. This decision proved to be disadvantageous for Hamilton, who incurred a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane. This penalty ultimately demoted him to fifth place, behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth.
Hamilton’s penalty meant he could not overtake Max Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli, both of whom did not pit during the Virtual Safety Car period. Verstappen secured second place after a strong final stint, while Antonelli fended off Hamilton on the track to claim third.
George Russell, Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, experienced a setback at the start of the race when his car went into anti-stall on the grid, dropping him to 20th. Despite this, Russell fought back to finish seventh.
Championship Standings and Upcoming Races
Kimi Antonelli’s third-place finish further extended his lead in the championship. He now leads Lewis Hamilton by 50 points and George Russell by 59 points. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar finished sixth in the race.
The McLaren team’s performance in Hungary was bolstered by a significant upgrade package. Norris’s victory marks his second consecutive win at the Hungaroring and the 12th of his career. Combined with Piastri’s win in 2024, McLaren has now achieved 14 victories at the circuit.
The Formula 1 season will resume after a summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled from August 21-23.
Calendar Adjustments
Prior to the race, Formula 1 confirmed the addition of a new race to the 2026 calendar. A race at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia will take place on October 4, positioned between the rounds in Baku and Singapore. This event will replace the previously cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix and will be known as the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, also cancelled, will not be replaced. The addition of the Malaysian race brings the calendar back to 23 races, assuming the final two meetings in Qatar and Abu Dhabi proceed as planned. The Sepang circuit last hosted an F1 event in 2017.
Source: skysports.com
Mason Reed
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