MOGYORÓD, Hungary: A Lando Norris victory ended an eight-month Formula One drought on July 26 as the McLaren driver won the Hungarian Grand Prix by 15.080 seconds.
Norris started from the pole but ran wide at Turn Two on the opening lap. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri used the opportunity to take the lead, according to the FIA race report.
However, Norris remained close during the opening stint. He gained clean air after Piastri made his second pit stop on lap 34 and then produced a series of quick laps.
Piastri lost time after making contact with Carlos Sainz’s Williams while navigating traffic. Norris emerged ahead following his own second stop, reversing the McLaren running order.
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A gearbox problem forced Piastri to retire on lap 56. The resulting virtual safety car helped Max Verstappen move into second place for Red Bull Racing, while Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured third.
The official Formula One classification placed Charles Leclerc fourth. Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton fell to fifth after receiving a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Antonelli entered the summer break with 219 points. He led Hamilton by 50 points and Mercedes teammate George Russell by 59. Norris moved into fifth with 128 points, leaving him 91 points behind the championship leader.
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Norris described his race pace as among the best he had produced. The result marked his first victory of the season and the 12th of his Formula One career. The championship resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on August 23.
