Norris claims Hungarian Grand Prix victory as Ferrari’s operational errors mount
Ferrari’s underperformance and strategic missteps allow Lando Norris to overcome early mistakes, while Kimi Antonelli extends his championship lead.
Lando Norris secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula One season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, ending a difficult start to the year for McLaren and the reigning world champion. Norris capitalised on a series of errors by pre-race favourites Ferrari, overcoming an early mistake on the first lap that ceded the lead to his team-mate, Oscar Piastri.
The race unfolded with complexity as Norris, trapped in dirty air, maintained a pace advantage that kept him within 0.8 seconds of Piastri for nearly 40 laps. A strategic pit stop around half-distance provided Norris with clean air, allowing him to retake the lead. Piastri’s position was compromised by a collision with Carlos Sainz while lapping the Williams driver, and he subsequently retired from the race due to a gearbox failure, denying McLaren a one-two finish.
Ferrari, who appeared to possess the fastest car in qualifying, suffered a significant underperformance on race day. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished fourth and fifth respectively after incurring penalties and operational errors. Hamilton was dropped to fifth on the grid for impeding Piastri and later lost time due to a pit-lane speeding penalty, while Leclerc lost positions early in the race.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli finished third, extending his lead in the drivers' championship standings. Team principal Andrea Stella noted that Norris is "more in control of his emotions" compared to earlier in the season, a trait that allowed him to remain calm despite his initial error. Norris credited his success to hard work with engineers to improve his confidence and ability to extract performance from the car.
Despite the victory, Norris cautioned against high expectations for the remainder of the season. He stated he has "no expectations of the future" and remains aware that the McLaren car is not yet perfect in all areas. Norris is now fifth in the drivers' standings with 98 points, while Antonelli leads the championship. George Russell finished seventh for Mercedes after a poor start caused by an engine issue.
