Sports (Commonwealth Union) _ Lando Norris delivered a thrilling end to the first half of the season, passing the checkered flag ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix. The final two laps at the Hungaroring shaped the battle between the two top championship contenders, with a mere 0.698-second gap between them as they crossed the checkered flag, securing McLaren’s 200th win in Formula 1 and their 7th 1-2 podium for the season.
The race was ultimately shaped by contrasting tire strategies. Norris, who dropped to fifth after a messy opening corner, recovered brilliantly with a bold one-stop plan—a move not originally in the team’s race script. Piastri, by contrast, was placed on a two-stop strategy and appeared to be the stronger contender in the latter stages with fresher tires.
Despite trailing Norris by 10 seconds with 20 laps to go, Piastri clawed his way back, setting up a nail-biting finish. On Lap 69 of 70, the Australian dived down the inside at Turn 1 in a desperate attempt to overtake Norris. However, he narrowly avoided contact due to a lock-up, with Norris continuing to defend his lead through Turns 2 and 3.
After the race, Norris acknowledged the toll the victory had taken on him. “I’m dead. It was tough,” he said. “We weren’t planning on the one-stop, but after the first lap, it was kind of our only option.” It was his ninth career win and fifth of the season, reducing Piastri’s championship lead to just nine points heading into the F1 summer break.
Piastri, visibly disappointed, acknowledged the challenge. “I pushed as hard as I could,” he said. “I knew I’d have to overtake on track, and that’s not easy here.”
The McLaren strategy gamble paid off after a difficult start for Norris, who found himself behind Charles Leclerc, Piastri, and George Russell early on. Leclerc, starting from pole, controlled the race in the opening stint, fending off an early undercut attempt from Piastri. But as tire degradation set in and Ferrari’s balance faded, the Monegasque fell back, eventually finishing fourth—even after being hit with a five-second penalty for forcing Russell off track during their duel on Lap 63.
Russell capitalised on Leclerc’s fading pace to grab third place for Mercedes and also set the fastest lap of the race. His late-race form meant the Brit joined both McLarens on the podium after a strong and measured drive.
Behind the top four, Fernando Alonso delivered a typically consistent performance to finish fifth for Aston Martin. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed yet again for Sauber, coming home sixth and continuing his standout debut season.
Lance Stroll followed in seventh, helping Aston Martin secure a valuable double-points finish. Further down the order, Liam Lawson was eighth for Racing Bulls, while Max Verstappen, who endured a frustrating weekend, managed only ninth. The reigning champion was investigated for an incident with Lewis Hamilton, where the Ferrari driver was forced wide, but no penalty was issued.
The final point went to Kimi Antonelli, the teenage sensation driving for Mercedes, who held off Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar for tenth. Hamilton, meanwhile, capped a dismal weekend with a 12th-place finish, having started in the same position.
The Hungarian Grand Prix posed a significant challenge for Alpine, as Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly secured the 18th and 19th positions, respectively. A 10-second penalty for contact with Carlos Sainz, who finished outside the points in 14th for Williams, further marred Gasly’s race.
Ollie Bearman’s Haas car suffered damage mid-race, forcing him to retire. His teammate Esteban Ocon could only manage 16th.
The championship battle remains finely poised as the paddock prepares for the break. Norris’ victory, built on strategy, nerve, and faultless execution, sets up a tantalising second half of the season. With just nine points separating the McLaren pair, all eyes now turn to the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, where the title fight will resume.
