Lando Norris delivered a masterful performance to claim victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, holding off a charging Oscar Piastri in a thrilling final-lap duel between McLaren teammates. The British driver’s strategic gamble paid off handsomely as he crossed the line just seven-tenths of a second ahead of his Australian teammate.
The race transformed dramatically when McLaren abandoned their planned two-stop strategy for Norris, switching instead to a risky one-stop approach. This bold decision proved decisive, allowing Norris to gain crucial track position while his rivals, including Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell, were forced to make additional pit stops.
Piastri mounted a fierce late-race challenge, closing a significant gap in the final laps and making a daring move on the penultimate lap that saw both cars narrowly avoid contact. The Australian’s aggressive pursuit tested Norris’s composure, but the race leader maintained his focus under intense pressure to secure McLaren’s second consecutive one-two finish.
Russell claimed the final podium position for Mercedes, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had dominated the early stages from pole position, faded to fourth after suffering suspected car damage.
The result tightens the championship battle significantly, with Piastri’s lead over Norris now reduced to just nine points as the series heads into its summer break. The intense but respectful rivalry between the McLaren drivers continues to define this championship season, setting up an intriguing second half of the campaign.
Other notable performances included Fernando Alonso taking fifth for Aston Martin, while both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen endured difficult afternoons, finishing 12th and ninth respectively after various on-track incidents and investigations.
