Lando Norris, the reigning World Champion, secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. This marked McLaren’s 14th win at the Hungaroring circuit. Norris started from pole position for the event.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing finished second, with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes securing third place. Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, initially led the race but retired due to a gearbox issue following contact with Carlos Sainz.
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle, in his Sky Sports F1 column, described McLaren’s performance as a ‘warning shot’ for Mercedes and championship leader Antonelli. He stated that the F1 title fight is ‘far from over’.
McLaren introduced a significant upgrade package for their MCL40 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. These revisions included a new floor body design, rear wing endplate, and rear corner winglets. Team Principal Andrea Stella indicated the team is ‘correcting the course’ with its car.
While the front wing had been introduced earlier in Monaco and the floor’s leading edge at Silverstone, the Hungary updates were considered the ‘biggest of the year’. More development parts are anticipated for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
As of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 219 points. Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari is second with 169 points, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell in third with 160 points.
Charles Leclerc holds fourth with 138 points, while Lando Norris sits fifth with 128 points. Max Verstappen is currently sixth in the standings with 109 points.
Brundle emphasized that with 291 points still available in the championship, even a modest shift in competitive order could drastically alter the standings. This highlights the potential for a dynamic second half of the season.
The 2026 F1 calendar has already seen changes due to a developing conflict in the Middle East. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled earlier this season.
The Bahrain Grand Prix has since been relocated and will now be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia in October.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed that the season’s final two races, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, could be moved to Europe. A decision is expected by mid-September if the situation in the Middle East does not clear.
‘If McLaren have made a decent upgrade step which translates well to other circuits, this was the team’s 14th Hungaroring victory, and with the top four ever closer, this championship is far from over. There are still 291 points available assuming all the remaining races take place given the Middle East conflict. With such a large points haul, even a modest shift in competition can drastically change the championship situation.’
Johnny Herbert, another former F1 driver, echoed Brundle’s sentiment. He believes Norris and McLaren possess the capability to exert significant pressure on Mercedes and Antonelli.
McLaren’s momentum from Hungary, coupled with the ongoing development of their MCL40, positions them as a contender. Their ability to adapt the upgrades to various circuit characteristics will be crucial.
