BUDAPEST — August 2025
Lando Norris pulled off a brilliant one-stop strategy to win the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on Sunday, beating McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a tense final-lap showdown and cutting the Australian's Formula One championship lead to just nine points before the summer break.
The 25-year-old Briton managed to hold on for victory after completing 39 of 70 laps on a single set of hard tires, while Piastri, who had fresher rubber after a second pit stop, closed a 12-second gap to just 0.6 seconds at the chequered flag. The thrilling McLaren battle nearly ended in a late-race collision.
🏆 Race Highlights: Norris Survives Pressure, McLaren Clinches 1-2
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Norris, who started P3, dropped to fifth after a tight start but fought his way back on the alternate strategy.
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Piastri, starting second, led early on but couldn’t reel in Norris in time, despite a strong second stint.
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McLaren sealed their seventh one-two finish of the season — their best start to a campaign in over a decade.
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Mercedes’ George Russell rounded out the podium in third, 20 seconds behind the McLaren duo, marking his fifth podium of the year.
"I’m dead. It was tough," Norris said over team radio. "We weren’t really planning a one-stop, but after Lap 1 it was our only chance. I didn’t think it would win us the race — maybe second. But here we are."
🔥 Midfield Shakes Up, Leclerc Fumbles, Verstappen Struggles
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Charles Leclerc led from pole for Ferrari but faded to fourth, frustrated by a two-stop strategy and a five-second penalty for erratic defending against Russell.
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Fernando Alonso drove a clean race to fifth for Aston Martin.
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Rising star Gabriel Bortoleto scored an impressive sixth for Sauber — the best finish of his rookie campaign.
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Lance Stroll secured seventh ahead of Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen only managing ninth after a lackluster showing.
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Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli claimed the final point in tenth.
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton endured a dismal afternoon. Starting 12th for Ferrari, he finished where he began and was lapped by the leaders with six laps to go — a rare sight at one of his most successful circuits.
🏁 Current F1 Drivers' Championship Standings (Top 5)
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 221 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 212 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 176 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 158 |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 145 |
⏸️ Summer Break Outlook: McLaren on Top, Title Race Heats Up
With 14 races complete, McLaren has clearly emerged as the team to beat in the 2025 season. Their aggressive strategy, race pace, and driver synergy have seen them win 11 out of 14 races so far. While Piastri leads the championship with six wins, Norris’s momentum — with three victories in the last four races — makes him a serious title threat.
“We’ll go into the break with a lot to think about, but I’m proud of the team,” said Piastri. “Lando did an incredible job today.”
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