Lando Norris clinched his first grand prix victory of the year at a wild Hungarian race, bringing McLaren a massive win. The victory marks Norris’s first grand prix win since Sao Paulo last November, and it was a compelling race all the way to the checkered flag on July 26, 2026. While Norris celebrated, the action behind him was just as intense, with Max Verstappen pulling off a surprise second place finish and Kimi Antonelli grabbing third.
Podium Drama and Championship Stakes
Verstappen, despite grumbles about his car for much of the race, just barely held onto second, a result that felt like a strategy gamble paid off for Red Bull. But the real mover for the championship was Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who secured third place. That podium finish extends his championship lead to a significant 50 points over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and 59 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Hamilton himself had a rough outing, finishing fourth on Antonelli’s tail initially but then got hit with a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him to fifth behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. Russell, meanwhile, finished seventh after a rough start, leaving Mercedes with mixed feelings even with Antonelli’s championship boost. It was a positive weekend for Aston Martin with their new car, even though they did not score points.
McLaren’s Controversial Call That Sparked a Fury
The biggest story of the race, beyond Norris’s brilliant pace, was the drama unfolding within McLaren. Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, led for most of the first half of the race. Norris initially lost the lead to Piastri after an error in Turn Two. McLaren found themselves in a bind, with their slower car in the lead and threats looming behind. Norris started to challenge hard in the second stint, clearly wanting a chance to take the lead. He even asked to make his second stop first, but the team refused, instead calling in Piastri to cover a threat from Hamilton. Norris then ran for six more laps before his pit stop. When he returned, he was just ahead of Piastri, who had been delayed by a collision with Williams driver Carlos Sainz, an incident for which Sainz was penalised five seconds. Piastri was clearly unhappy, reportedly telling his engineer not to talk to him right after Norris got back on track. Ouch! But Norris’s incredible pace afterward justified the team’s decision, as he pulled away into a comfortable lead. Piastri’s day ended in heartbreak on lap 56 when he lost use of his gearbox and retired from second place, leading to a late virtual safety car.
Norris is Back, and McLaren’s Looking Dangerous
Norris’s performance, especially after the team strategy played out, was phenomenal. He said he was “happy to be back and be number one again,” adding, “My pace today was probably some of the best pace I’ve ever had. The car was beautiful to drive and I had confidence.” McLaren came to Hungary with an upgraded car, and this win revived memories of their dominant victories from their championship last year. With Antonelli extending his championship lead, and Norris back in the winner’s circle with a car he trusts, the next grand prix is going to be absolutely massive. Will Antonelli keep building that lead? Can Norris and McLaren keep this momentum going? We’ll be watching every second!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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