
Lando Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix in another McLaren 1-2
Mercedes' George Russell took third as McLaren celebrated their 200th F1 win and fourth consecutive 1-2.
Norris, on a one-stop strategy, held off a charging Piastri on fresher tyres to take the chequered flag by less than one second.
Norris moved to within nine points of Piastri in the drivers' championship ahead of F1's mid-season break.
"I'm dead, it was tough!" said Norris.
"I wasn't planning the one-stop strategy, my voice has gone, but even more rewarding because of that."
"I pushed as hard as I could, looking forward to a few weeks off," said Piastri.
Polesitter Charles Leclerc was furious with his Ferrari team's strategy as he came in fourth leaving the Scuderia still waiting for their first win of the season.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
38 minutes ago
- IOL News
Norris shines as McLaren tighten grip on both titles ahead of summer break
Lando Norris celebrates McLaren's 200th Grand Prix victory with a composed drive in Budapest, edging team-mate Oscar Piastri to tighten an all-orange title race ahead of the summer break. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Lando Norris danced his way to a fifth win of the season in Budapest — a victory born not of dominance from the start, but of grit and quiet persistence. From a slow launch off the line to a forceful final flourish, the Briton pieced together another masterpiece under the Hungarian grey clouds, taming the twists of the Hungaroring when it mattered most to hand his team their 200th Grand Prix victory. With 14 races done and dusted and the paddock slipping into its summer pause, McLaren stand tall at the top — not just chasing, but commanding both championships. Their run through the first half of 2025 has been a blend of precision, patience and pure performance. The Surrey-based outfit has held control since the opening round, delivering more podium finishes than any other team and stretching out a remarkable 299-point lead in the Constructors' Championship. The fat lady isn't just warming up — she's already singing. For McLaren, the only real battle from here may be the one happening internally. Just nine points separate Norris and Oscar Piastri heading into the break. With the title fight shaping up as a two-horse race in papaya orange, here are some key talking points from the weekend: McLaren's careful management amid a brewing driver duel Since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 triumph, McLaren have longed for another drivers' title. This season, they've done little wrong. Team orders have been minimal and the atmosphere largely positive — for now. Given how close the title fight is, it would be natural to expect tensions to flare between the two young stars with everything on the line. Yet, despite being given the freedom to race, both Norris and Piastri have kept things respectful. But as the pressure ramps up later in the season, the cracks may begin to show. The one with cooler nerves will likely prevail. Piastri has looked the steadier of the two at times, but it's been just as impressive how Norris, even when things haven't gone his way, has kept himself just nine points adrift — further testament to how well the team has managed a potentially volatile situation. Verstappen's tough outing continues Max Verstappen, meanwhile, finds himself in the midst of one of the most difficult stretches of his career. A ninth-place finish in Hungary marked his fourth consecutive race without a podium — an unthinkable statistic for a driver who has defined F1's recent era. The biggest talking point surrounding the Dutchman wasn't his lacklustre result, but rather a near-miss with long-time rival Hamilton as he attempted to claw back positions. In a daring move while overtaking a Ferrari struggling on worn tyres, Verstappen forced Hamilton wide — a moment that sparked post-race debate over potential penalties. However, the stewards deemed no further action necessary. Red Bull's struggles have been glaring. With Yuki Tsunoda often absent from the points, they've effectively operated with one car — and even that hasn't been enough. The break offers a crucial window to regroup, but there's no mistaking the task at hand: closing the gap between their two drivers and salvaging some pride. Hamilton's dream move off to a slow start For Hamilton, Hungary brought an unwanted milestone: his worst finish at the venue in 15 years. A frustrating weekend, which saw him finish 12th, capped what has been a disappointing first half of the season with Ferrari — a move once billed as a fairytale now increasingly looks like a misstep. Adding to the pain, team-mate Charles Leclerc continues to pull clear. The Monegasque has steadily delivered solid results, opening up a 42-point gap over the seven-time world champion. With one eye already on 2026's regulation changes, Hamilton would have hoped for far more from his debut campaign in red. The upcoming break may be short, but it offers a moment for reflection — and renewed hope for a stronger finish to a fading season.


The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
'I'm useless': Is it time for Lewis Hamilton to retire from F1?
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur defended Hamilton. 'I am useless,' said seven-time Formula One world champion and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton's remarks shocked many who were watching as the frustrated Ferrari driver tried to get hold of the prancing horse since his move from Mercedes. Deflated It has been a bittersweet move for Hamilton, who craves the elusive eighth title after the fiasco at the controversial season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, where Red Bull Racing's F1 driver Max Verstappen snatched the title from the Brit, thanks largely to F1's race director Michael Massy. Hamilton was deflated after the fiasco and seemed to have dropped a few places in the motivation sector, which is truly heartbreaking for his fans. 'Useless'? During qualifying on Saturday, a crestfallen Hamilton declared himself 'useless' after qualifying in 12th position for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surged to pole position. Leclerc appeared to be a little happier after he had failed to convert pole into victory for the 15th time in 16 attempts during the last three years. His one success came in last year's Monaco Grand Prix, his home event. Hamilton exited the session in Q2 with his head down and his helmet on as the 40-year-old retreated to the team's motor home. 'I'm useless,' said Hamilton. 'Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You've seen the car on pole, so they probably need to change the driver.' Q: So, what happened in Quali? Lewis: I'm just useless. Q: Sorry, say again? Lewis: I'm just useless. Q: But that isn't obviously the case, is it? Lewis: It clearly is. I just drove terribly. 💔💔 — sim (@simsgazette) August 2, 2025 ALSO READ: Lando Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix in another McLaren 1-2 Ferrari boss defends Hamilton To most observers, it appeared as if the pressures of living up to the hype of his spectacular move from Mercedes, where he won six titles, and adjusting to the culture, car and expectations at Ferrari were overwhelming him. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur, on Sunday, just hours after Hamilton cut a dejected figure following a lacklustre drive to 12th place in the Hungarian Grand Prix, defended the British driver. 'I don't need to motivate him,' said Vasseur. 'Honestly, he's frustrated, but not demotivated. He's demanding, but I think it's also why he's (a) seven-time world champion. I can perfectly understand this situation. 'Sometimes, you are making comments on what the driver is saying (in) the car, but if you put the microphone on some other sportsmen, in football and so on, I'm not sure that it would be much better.' Retirement The 40-year-old Hamilton, winner of a record eight Hungarian Grands Prix and a record nine poles at the circuit, finished where he started and with his worst result at the circuit, inevitably sparking talk of his possible retirement, AFP reported. Hamilton and Verstappen, who battled so intensely in 2021 when the Dutchman claimed his first title, appear to have found a rapprochement and mutual respect. However, Hamilton's heart-on-sleeve vulnerability as he seeks his first Ferrari podium after 13 races this year may soon become a sad ending story if he cannot sort out his qualifying woes. ALSO READ: Don't laugh: F1 is coming to South Africa, McKenzie reiterates [VIDEO]

The Herald
6 hours ago
- The Herald
Hamilton frustrated after difficult Hungarian Grand Prix
"I can understand the frustration from Lewis. This is normal," added the Frenchman. "We will be back and we will perform. I don't need to motivate him. He's frustrated, but not demotivated. It's a completely different story." Leclerc finished fourth after leading for much of the race. Hamilton's former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also spoke out strongly in the 40-year-old Briton's defence, calling his Saturday comments "Lewis wearing his heart on his sleeve". "It was very raw. It was out of himself and we had it in the past when he felt he underperformed his own expectations," said the Austrian. "He's been that emotional and emotionally transparent since he was a young boy, a young adult. He's got to beat himself up. He's the GOAT (greatest of all time) and will always be the GOAT and nobody's going to take that away." Wolff said he was sure Hamilton had unfinished business in Formula One, after losing controversially in 2021 what would have been a record eighth title, and had what it takes. "He shouldn't go anywhere next year," said the Mercedes boss. "Brand new cars, completely different to drive, new power units I hope he stays on for many more years and certainly next year is going to be important."