Norris secures first win of 2026 Formula 1 season at Hungarian Grand Prix
Norris claims victory at Hungaroring
Lando Norris secured 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 Max Verstappen of Red Bull finishing second and Kimi Antonelli taking third place. Norris’s performance was described as commanding once he took the lead, despite an early challenge from his teammate.
The race saw an initial squabble 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, capitalizing on Norris running wide at the second turn to gain track position on a circuit known for being difficult to overtake.
Norris, however, demonstrated stronger pace throughout the race. He expressed increasing frustration over the team radio as he struggled to find a way past Piastri. He inquired about pitting first before the second round of pit stops but was told he could not. McLaren subsequently pitted Piastri just before the halfway point of the 70-lap Hungarian Grand Prix, while Norris remained on the track.
Despite being on older tyres, Norris managed to slightly outpace Piastri, who encountered lapped traffic, including Williams’ Carlos Sainz. Minor contact occurred between Piastri and Sainz at Turn 2. Norris eventually pitted on Lap 40, emerging ahead of his teammate. He then went on to dominate the remainder of the race.
Piastri, who was on course for a second-place finish, later retired from the race due to a gearbox issue. This incident led to a late Virtual Safety Car with 14 laps remaining. The retirement of Piastri was a significant moment in the race, impacting the podium positions.
Drama and strategic decisions unfold
The race was not without its share of drama and strategic decisions for other teams. Ferrari opted to pit Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from second and fifth positions, respectively. For Hamilton, this decision proved to be disadvantageous. He was given a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane, which ultimately prevented him from overtaking Verstappen or Antonelli, both of whom did not pit under the Virtual Safety Car.
Verstappen maintained his second-place position after a strong final stint. Antonelli successfully fended off Hamilton on the track, extending his championship lead to 50 points over Hamilton and 59 points over George Russell. Russell had a difficult start, stalling at the beginning of the race, but managed to recover to finish seventh.
Hamilton’s penalty demoted him to fifth place, behind his Ferrari teammate Leclerc. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar finished sixth. Hamilton expressed frustration over the team radio regarding the penalties, stating, “Handing out penalties like crazy.”
Ferrari’s strategy for Hamilton was questioned, particularly after he had qualified on the front row and was expected to perform strongly. Despite starting fifth due to a three-place grid penalty for impeding Piastri in qualifying, Hamilton made a strong start and was in contention. He battled Verstappen during the first stint, and Ferrari attempted an undercut by pitting him early. However, Verstappen executed a move into Turn 1 after a quick out-lap, keeping Hamilton behind.
Hamilton pitted for a second time on Lap 30 and was effectively in third place behind Norris and Piastri. After Piastri’s retirement, Hamilton was in line for second, but Ferrari’s decision to pit him under the late Virtual Safety Car proved costly. He dropped from second to fourth and then to fifth after his penalty, missing an opportunity to reduce his championship deficit to Antonelli.
The Racing Bulls duo of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad engaged in a race-long battle with Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, with Lawson ultimately finishing ahead of Hulkenberg and Lindblad in the final points-paying positions. This race was the last Grand Prix before the four-week summer break. The Formula 1 season is scheduled to resume with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21-23.
McLaren’s upgrade package for Hungary played a significant role in their strong performance. Norris commented on his pace, stating, “My pace today was probably some of the best pace I’ve ever had. The car was beautiful to drive and I felt very confident, so a great race.” He also noted that extending his stints on old tyres was crucial to his victory. The team’s execution was highlighted as a key factor in their success, with team principal Stella acknowledging that the pole position was an “overachievement” thanks to maximizing potential.
Ferrari’s chassis performance in low-speed corners, particularly Turn 1, Turn 12, and Turn 13 at the Hungaroring, was noted as a strong point, even by McLaren’s team principal. Data analysis supported this, showing Hamilton gaining time on Norris in these specific corners. However, McLaren had improved their car in medium-high speed sections, making them more comparable to Ferrari in those areas. The focus for McLaren now is to continue improving in low-speed performance.
The next race on the calendar is the Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for August 21-23.
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Source: skysports.com
