Norris breaks through in Hungary as McLaren’s race turns dramatic

Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix, giving both himself and McLaren their first victory of the season. Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli third.

McLaren’s afternoon was far from straightforward. Oscar Piastri led much of the opening half and later ran second, but a gearbox failure forced him out on lap 56, triggering a virtual safety car and sharpening the late fight behind Norris. Earlier pit-stop timing and a lapping incident involving Carlos Sainz added to the tension around McLaren’s race management.

Verstappen’s second place came after Red Bull committed to a soft-tyre strategy at his second stop, a call that helped him hold position when the race reset late on. Antonelli’s podium also strengthened his championship position, extending his lead over Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Ferrari left with frustration despite showing pace. Hamilton finished on track close to Antonelli but a five-second pit-lane speeding penalty dropped him behind Charles Leclerc to fifth, while Russell recovered to seventh after a poor start. Further back, Aston Martin’s upgraded car did not score points but appeared to move the team closer to the midfield battle before the summer break.