Norris Clinches Victory at Hungarian Grand Prix

BUDAPEST: Lando Norris triumphed at the Hungarian Grand Prix, successfully employing a one-stop strategy to fend off his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, on Sunday. This victory narrows Piastri’s lead in the Formula One standings to a mere nine points.

Norris’s choice of a one-stop strategy proved effective, as he navigated 39 of the race’s 70 laps on a solitary set of hard tires. Piastri, who opted for two pit stops, managed to diminish a 12-second deficit to just 0.6 seconds by the race’s conclusion.

George Russell secured the third spot, trailing by 20 seconds, earning his fifth podium finish of the season for Mercedes.

Reflecting on his win, Norris explained that a one-stop strategy wasn’t initially planned but became the most viable option to recover. He commented, “I’m exhausted. It was a demanding race.” He further added, “We hadn’t initially considered a one-stop strategy, but after the initial lap, it seemed like our only path back into contention. I didn’t anticipate it would secure us the win, perhaps only second place.”

This victory marks Lando Norris’s fifth of the season and his third in the past four races, compared to Piastri’s six. It also signifies McLaren’s seventh one-two finish in 14 races.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who began in pole position, concluded in fourth place after being hampered by a two-stop strategy and a five-second penalty due to inconsistent driving while being challenged by Russell.

Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin claimed fifth place, with his teammate Lance Stroll finishing seventh, and Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber securing sixth.

Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls finished eighth, followed by Red Bull’s reigning champion, Max Verstappen, in ninth, and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who rounded out the top ten.