Rewind: 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix
Lando Norris claimed a dramatic victory at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, leading home McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a thrilling, strategic contest at the Hungaroring. The British driver’s triumph, following a bold one-stop strategy, marked a crucial turning point in the season and narrowed Piastri’s Drivers’ Championship lead to just nine points as Formula 1 heads into the summer break.
The race was shaped by divergent McLaren strategies. Norris, after dropping from third to fifth on the opening lap, benefited from his one-stop plan, gaining track position over both Piastri and pole-sitter Charles Leclerc. Piastri, running a conventional two-stop, charged back in the closing stages—and a huge lock-up nearly resulted in both McLarens colliding on the last lap—but Norris held firm to take the chequered flag, less than a second ahead.
George Russell delivered a strong drive for Mercedes, capitalizing on a fading Ferrari to complete the podium after overtaking Leclerc late in the race. Leclerc, who started from pole, could not convert his early pace; struggling on worn tires, he eventually finished fourth and was penalized five seconds for erratic defensive driving. Fernando Alonso secured fifth, earning Aston Martin their best finish of the year.
Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with sixth for Sauber, splitting the Aston Martins as Lance Stroll secured seventh. Max Verstappen, after a difficult weekend, finished ninth—his aggressive lunge on Lewis Hamilton drew a post-race investigation but incurred no penalty.
Final Top Ten:
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Lando Norris (McLaren)
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
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George Russell (Mercedes)
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
The Hungarian Grand Prix showcased McLaren’s dominance and internal rivalry, leaving a clear signal that the championship fight is set to intensify in the second half of the season. The result also raised questions at Ferrari, signaled progress for Mercedes and Aston Martin, and put the spotlight on several young talents as Formula 1 goes into its summer hiatus.
