Lando Norris secured victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, dominating the race from pole position at the Hungaroring. The McLaren driver’s performance marked his second win of the 2026 Formula 1 season. This result underscores a significant performance uplift for the McLaren team.
Norris finished 12.5 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, who took second place. Oscar Piastri completed the podium, ensuring a strong double podium finish for McLaren. Charles Leclerc secured fourth position, with George Russell finishing fifth.
McLaren introduced a substantial upgrade package for their MCL38 car at the Hungarian Grand Prix. This development proved highly effective throughout the weekend. The car exhibited exceptional balance and managed tyre wear efficiently during the race.
Max Verstappen expressed surprise at his second-place finish, acknowledging the Red Bull RB22 struggled with balance and grip. He stated the car lacked pace compared to McLaren. Verstappen had also indicated his disbelief at the P2 result on social media.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, criticised the performance gap to McLaren. He called for a comprehensive review of Mercedes’ current development strategy. Wolff emphasised the immediate need for performance improvements within the team.
Lewis Hamilton received a five-second time penalty during the race. The penalty was issued for impeding Oscar Piastri in the pit lane. FIA stewards determined Hamilton’s pit lane re-entry was unsafe.
Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz made contact during a battle for position on lap 23. Sainz sustained minor front wing damage from the incident. Piastri continued the race without significant issues to his car.
Isack Hadjar, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, also reported considerable handling difficulties with the RB22. He struggled to find a comfortable setup throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Hadjar finished outside the points positions.
Verstappen also conveyed appreciation for Kimi Antonelli’s form during the event. Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, displayed strong pace in the midfield, particularly in the latter stages of the race. Verstappen praised Antonelli’s consistent performance.
The Hungaroring circuit, a 4.381 km track, is known for its tight and twisty layout. Its characteristics often make overtaking challenging, which places a premium on qualifying performance.
Norris’s victory at the Hungaroring propelled him to second in the drivers’ championship standings. This result significantly closed the gap to championship leader Max Verstappen. McLaren also solidified its second position in the constructors’ championship.
