Lando Norris secured a dominant victory at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his first win of the current Formula 1 season. Max Verstappen finished an unexpected second, having navigated a challenging race at the Hungaroring. Kimi Antonelli completed the podium, securing third place for Mercedes.
Norris started from pole position, a significant achievement for McLaren, ending Mercedes’ streak of ten consecutive poles this season. McLaren’s MCL40 featured a new upgrade package, including a new floor and revised brake duct winglets, which contributed to its strong performance.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, initially took the lead on the opening lap after starting from the second row. However, Piastri’s race was compromised by contact with Carlos Sainz while being lapped, eventually leading to his retirement due to a gearbox failure.
Max Verstappen, who started fourth after grid penalties for other drivers, executed a strategic drive to climb through the field. He demonstrated strong defending against Lewis Hamilton early in the race, maximizing his points haul for Red Bull Racing.
Lewis Hamilton received a five-second penalty for pit lane speeding, which dropped him from fourth to fifth in the final classification. George Russell also experienced an anti-stall issue at the start, falling to the back before recovering positions.
The Hungaroring circuit, known for its tight and twisty layout, presented its usual challenges with limited overtaking opportunities. The 4.381-kilometre track, featuring 14 corners, demands high aerodynamic downforce and precise rear tyre management, especially with high track temperatures.
Norris expressed satisfaction with his performance.
‘The car felt incredible today, and the team executed a flawless strategy,’ Norris stated after his victory.
Verstappen acknowledged the unexpected result.
‘To come from where we started and finish P2 is a fantastic result; we maximized the points,’ Verstappen commented.
The final top ten classification for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix is as follows: 1. Lando Norris (McLaren), 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), 7. George Russell (Mercedes), 8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), 9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), 10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls).
