Lando Norris secures first victory of the season at Hungarian Grand Prix
Norris secures victory
Lando Norris claimed his and McLaren’s first victory of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. His performance at the Hungaroring was described as commanding once he took the lead. The win marks a significant moment for both Norris and the team, ending a period without a victory.
Norris expressed satisfaction with his car’s performance, stating that his pace was among the best he had ever achieved. He noted that the car felt “beautiful to drive” and that he felt “very confident” during the race. This victory was unexpected for Norris, who conveyed his appreciation to the McLaren team for their efforts.
The win followed a strong showing in practice and qualifying sessions, where Norris topped the timesheets in FP3 and qualifying. McLaren’s upgrades for the weekend appeared to contribute to their improved performance, leading to their first front-row start and pole position of the season.
Race developments and podium finishes
While Norris maintained a serene lead, the race behind him saw considerable action. Max Verstappen secured second place for Red Bull, despite not expecting to be on the podium. Verstappen commented on working hard for his position and seizing an opportunity, noting his car’s braking capabilities.
Kimi Antonelli delivered a strong comeback drive, finishing third after starting from seventh on the grid. Antonelli described the race as tough, highlighting the difficulty of overtaking. His team initially aimed for a one-stop strategy, but a tire limitation led to an additional stop. Antonelli viewed his third-place finish as significant “damage limitation” for his team.
Lewis Hamilton, after battling fiercely throughout all 70 laps, initially finished fourth but dropped to fifth due to a five-second penalty. The penalty allowed Charles Leclerc to move up in the standings. Hamilton voiced his frustration regarding the penalties being issued during the race.
Strategic decisions and incidents
The race saw various strategic plays and incidents. Oscar Piastri, who had been leading earlier, retired from the race after a touching of wheels with Carlos Sainz. McLaren suggested that Piastri’s exit might have been due to hitting exit kerbs, a concern they later relayed to Norris during his lead.
Antonelli’s pursuit of Verstappen was impacted by back markers, costing him two seconds. He also had to contend with traffic, which allowed Hamilton to close the gap. A battle between Antonelli and Hamilton ensued, with Hamilton temporarily handing back a position to Antonelli after a virtual safety car incident was reviewed.
Pitting strategies played a role, with Norris and Hamilton making “cheap pits” at one point. Antonelli’s stop, however, was noted as coming at an inopportune time. Norris maintained his lead ahead of Verstappen, who did not pit during that phase, with Hamilton and Antonelli following.
Towards the latter stages of the race, Sergio Perez‘s Cadillac came off the track, eventually leading to both Cadillacs being out of the race. Leclerc avoided punishment for a yellow flag infringement, though he reported his car was out of rhythm. The fastest driver of the race was Carlos Sainz, recording a speed of 222mph.
Conventional wisdom often suggests that track position is paramount at the Hungaroring, but race statistics indicate otherwise. A winner from pole position has not occurred since 2020, with only three such instances in the last decade.
Source: formula1.com
