Exactly one year after controversially relinquishing victory to his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, Lando Norris has reclaimed glory at the Hungaroring down to the last lap, this time crossing the line first following a tense head-to-head with teammate Oscar Piastri (News.com.au).
Charles Leclerc had taken shock pole for Ferrari on Saturday, upsetting McLaren’s favored qualifying pace by just hundredths of a second (Sky Sports). At lights‑out, Leclerc held the lead into the first corner, with Piastri and Norris chasing in hot pursuit (Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website).
McLaren’s one‑stop strategy for Norris ultimately paid off. He defended resolutely against relentless pressure from Piastri through the final laps, with his teammate locking up in a key moment that sealed Norris’s advantage (The Guardian).
The final podium looked like this:
While in 2024 Norris switched places under team orders to allow Piastri his first win – a move he later reflected on with regret – this year he stood firm to claim victory for himself and lift the pressure at the top of the Drivers’ Championship .
With this win, Norris narrows the gap to Piastri in the standings, strengthening McLaren’s grip at the top of the Constructors’ Championship. The result sets up a compelling title fight as Formula 1 heads into its summer shutdown.
Sidebar: The 2024 drama
- Norris started on pole for the 2024 Hungarian GP but was asked to give the lead to Piastri late in the race—Norris complied on lap 68, yielding a popular maiden win for the Australian and a 1–2 finish for McLaren .
That episode underscored intra-team tensions and raised questions over whether Norris had been denied a deserved win—a cloud cleared today with this emphatic reversal.
Overall, this year’s result not only redeems Norris personally but also strengthens McLaren’s momentum heading into the second half of the season. Whether Piastri can respond and reclaim his lead adds even more spice to this unfolding championship duel.
