In a dramatic turn of events at the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri clinched his maiden Formula 1 victory, leading a stunning 1-2 finish for the team. The 23-year-old Australian driver’s triumph was not without controversy, as teammate Lando Norris initially refused team orders to cede the lead.Piastri led for much of the race, but Norris gained the lead after a pit stop with 25 laps to go. After repeated requests from the team, Norris finally yielded the position to Piastri with just two laps remaining, allowing the rookie to secure his first Grand Prix win. Piastri acknowledged the complexity of the situation, describing the win as ‘a bit complicated’ due to the repeated demands.The new champion expressed his elation post-race, saying, ‘This is the day I dreamed of when I was a child, being on top of the Formula 1 podium’. He also thanked his team for their support and the car’s performance.Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third place, achieving his 200th career podium finish. The seven-time world champion was involved in a late-race battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, which resulted in a collision.Verstappen, the current world champion, endured a frustrating race, struggling with his car’s handling and ultimately finishing fifth. The Dutch driver expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s strategy and engaged in a heated exchange with his engineer.Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while his teammate Carlos Sainz came in sixth. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez made a strong comeback from 16th on the grid to finish seventh.The result has significant implications for the championship standings. McLaren’s performance has closed the gap to Red Bull, with Piastri now ranking fifth in the season with 149 points, 40 fewer than Norris. This shift in momentum sets the stage for an exciting second half of the season, with McLaren emerging as potential title contenders.
Key points
- Oscar Piastri won his first Formula 1 race at the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren 1-2 finish.
- The victory was controversial due to team orders instructing Lando Norris to cede the lead to Piastri.
- Lewis Hamilton finished third, achieving his 200th career podium.
- Max Verstappen struggled, finishing fifth after a collision with Hamilton.
- The result has significant implications for the championship standings, with McLaren emerging as potential title contenders.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reporting of when Norris ceded the lead to Piastri, with some sources stating it was in the final meters, while others report it was with two laps remaining.
