Lando Norris claimed his first victory of the 2026 Formula One season with a commanding performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading from pole position at the Hungaroring. The McLaren driver crossed the line 15 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, while Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli completed the podium in third after a strong recovery from seventh on the grid.
Dramatic race unfolds behind Norris
The race was not without incident. Norris's teammate Oscar Piastri, who had led early, retired on lap 56 due to a gearbox problem. Piastri was furious after being struck by Williams driver Carlos Sainz while trying to lap the backmarker. "Is he fucking stupid or what? Get out of the fucking way, you idiot!" Piastri radioed his team. The collision cost Piastri track position and ultimately contributed to his retirement.
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, fought hard throughout the 70 laps but received a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him from fourth to fifth. Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari.
Antonelli extends championship lead
Antonelli's third-place finish extended his championship lead to 50 points over Hamilton and 59 over Mercedes teammate George Russell. Russell's race was compromised when his car went into anti-stall on the grid, dropping him to 20th, though he recovered to seventh. The championship now heads into its summer break with Antonelli leading on 219 points, Hamilton on 169, and Russell on 160.
McLaren's resurgence continues
Norris's victory was McLaren's first of the season, following a marked improvement after recent upgrades. It was his second consecutive win in Hungary and the 12th of his career. McLaren now holds a record 14 victories at the Hungaroring, adding to Norris's 2025 win and Piastri's 2024 triumph. The team sits third in the constructors' standings with 220 points, behind Mercedes (379) and Ferrari (307).
Race highlights and key battles
Norris held the lead at turn one, but Piastri overtook him at turn two. Hamilton moved from fifth to fourth, while Leclerc dropped from second to fifth. The first round of pit stops saw Hamilton and Verstappen engage in a fierce battle, with Verstappen reclaiming the position with a late-braking move at turn one. Hamilton later passed Verstappen after the second stops, but the Dutchman's fresher tires allowed him to retake the place.
Norris pitted on lap 39 and emerged ahead of Piastri, who had been delayed by the Sainz incident. Norris then decisively passed Antonelli on lap 46 to retake the lead and pulled away. A virtual safety car following Piastri's retirement allowed Hamilton and Norris to pit, while Verstappen and Antonelli stayed out. Hamilton's penalty ultimately cost him a podium finish.
F1 confirms Malaysian Grand Prix replacement
Earlier in the day, Formula One confirmed the addition of a race at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on 4 October, replacing the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix. The event will be called the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with Bahrain covering much of the hosting costs. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, also cancelled due to the war in the Middle East, will not be replaced. Sepang last hosted an F1 race in 2017, won by Verstappen. The calendar now stands at 23 races, pending the season-ending rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
