F1
Published on July 26, 2026 at 17:16 PM by Oléna Champlain

F1 – Hungarian GP – Norris tames the Hungarian chaos: Piastri crashes, Hamilton pays the price, Verstappen holds firm

Norris triumphs in Hungary ahead of Verstappen, while Piastri retires and Hamilton receives a penalty.

Lando Norris won a wild Hungarian Grand Prix, marked by Oscar Piastri's heartbreaking retirement, heated exchanges over the radio, disrupted strategies, and another penalty for Lewis Hamilton. After a slow start, the McLaren driver patiently rebuilt his race before taking the win ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli.

Norris, from doubt to demonstration

The Hungaroring may be nicknamed "Monaco without the walls," but it was anything but a peaceful parade this Sunday. For this eleventh round of the 2026 season, the walls were replaced by backmarkers, unpredictable strategies, worn-out tires, and some particularly harsh radio messages.

In the midst of this joyful chaos, Lando Norris kept a cool head. Starting from pole position, he lost the lead on the first lap and was then briefly hampered by the strategy of McLaren, the reigning world champion finally took control of the race and never relinquished it.

Piastri leaps, Norris misses

When the lights went out, the two McLaren immediately take the best on Charles Leclerc. Norris initially maintains the advantage, but widens his trajectory at the second corner and hands over first place to Oscar piastri.

The Australian didn't need to be asked twice. After a difficult first half of the season, he took the lead ahead of his teammate. Verstappen, Hamilton et Leclerc. George RussellHowever, his start was ruined by the activation of the anti-stall system and he plummeted to the bottom of the rankings.

On your mind, Piastres et Norris quickly try to escape. Norris estimates to be "much faster"However, the turbulence created by the sister car prevents it from getting close enough to launch an attack. A classic situation at the Hungaroring, where following a single-seater remains almost as difficult as overtaking it.

Verstappen and Hamilton are bringing up old issues

behind the McLaren, Max Verstappen et Lewis Hamilton resume their eternal duel. The Dutchman defends authoritatively despite a Red Bull which he describes as unstable, poorly damped and affected by gearbox problems.

Hamilton first managed to pass Verstappen at the pit exit, but the four-time world champion immediately prepares his counterattack. At the first corner, he dives inside the Classic Ferrari for sale and regains his position thanks to a spectacular overtaking maneuver.

La Red Bull However, it seems far from perfect. Verstappen He regularly complains about his rear end and the behavior of the transmission. Nevertheless, he clings to the front positions and transforms a race that seemed to be going badly into a strong contender for the podium.

McLaren hesitates, Piastri loses his temper

The turning point comes during the second series of stops. Hamilton, very fast with its new hard tires, pushes McLaren to react. Norris demands his pit stop, but the team gives priority to Piastres, placed in front of him on the track.

The Australian then rejoined the traffic. His progress was slowed by several backmarkers before contact with Carlos Sainz He briefly sends it into the grass. The pilot Williams will receive a five-second penalty for this incident.

When Norris He finally makes his pit stop, emerging ahead of his teammate. A successful strategic maneuver for the Briton, but perceived as a true sporting betrayal on the other side of the garage.

Furious at having wasted time behind the stragglers, Piastres cut short his engineer's explanations: « Don't talk to me now. »

The tension is at its highest at McLaren. Piastres had taken the lead at the start, controlled the first part of the race and seemed to have made no major mistakes. Yet, after the pit stops, it was Norris who has the advantage.

Antonelli plays the stationmaster

Kimi Antonelli He also livened up the race with an unconventional strategy. Starting seventh after receiving a penalty in qualifying for not slowing down sufficiently under yellow flags, the championship leader extended his stints considerably.

The pilot Mercedes Benz He even found himself in the lead with a gap of over twelve seconds before his first pit stop. His one-stop strategy seemed for a time capable of shaking up the standings.

But the tires eventually lose their effectiveness. On lap 46, Norris he comes back with long strides and launches his attack at the first turn. Antonelli tries to resist, but the McLaren has too much speed. Norris resumes command with authority.

Piastri's nightmare becomes mechanical

A few laps later, the frustration of Piastres Dejection sets in. On lap 56, the gearbox of his McLaren seizes up. The Australian stops his car at the exit of the third corner and retires.

The virtual safety car is activated. Norris takes the opportunity to make a low-cost stop and fit soft tires. Hamilton also stops, whileAntonelli, Having stopped at the pits just before the neutralization, he finds himself trapped by the schedule of events.

In a few seconds, McLaren goes from a possible double victory to a solo win. For PiastresThe day is terrible: leader at the start, penalized by traffic, held up by Sainz, strategically outmaneuvered by his teammate and then betrayed by his mechanics.

Hamilton penalized, Leclerc picks up the pieces

The end of the race still holds an unpleasant surprise for Lewis HamiltonDuring his virtual safety car stop, the Briton exceeded the speed limit in the pit lane.

He is given a five-second penalty. Hamilton However, he crossed the finish line in fourth position, just behind Antonelli, but the penalty drops him to fifth place and allows Charles Leclerc to regain fourth place.

Having been informed of the decision, Hamilton let his annoyance erupt: « They're handing out penalties like crazy. »

But after his three-place grid penalty for obstructing Piastres in qualifying, the driver Classic Ferrari for sale will definitely have experienced a weekend under high surveillance.

Antonelli He thus retains third place after an aggressive race, despite a disrupted strategy and several seconds lost in traffic. Starting seventh, the Italian perfectly limits the damage to his championship hopes.

In front of, Lando Norris Stop trembling. McLaren He is simply asked to avoid the exit vibrators, which are suspected of having contributed to the mechanical problem of PiastresWith a comfortable lead over VerstappenThe Briton slightly reduced his pace and brought his single-seater back to the checkered flag.

Norris He secured his first victory of the 2026 season and the twelfth Grand Prix of his career. A victory built on speed, patience, and a healthy dose of strategic opportunism. After losing the lead on the first lap, he patiently waited for the race to come back to him.

« The car was brilliant today… I love you all., he says over the radio after the finish.

Max Verstappen finishes second after spending the afternoon criticizing a Red Bull yet efficient enough to offer him an almost unexpected result. Antonelli completes the podium, ahead Leclerc et Hamilton after the British penalty has been applied.

Norris He therefore goes on holiday with a resounding victory. McLarenHowever, will have to spend part of the summer break understanding the breakdown of Piastres… and probably another one to calm down an Australian driver who is likely to find the debriefing much less pleasant than his teammate.