Formula One resumes with Norris' poker game underway, £200 stake for McLaren.
In a thrilling race at the Hungaroring, Lando Norris secured McLaren's 200th Formula 1 victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, outmaneuvering teammate Oscar Piastri with a daring one-stop tire strategy.
Norris, who started third on the grid, dropped to fifth after a poor start. However, an unexpected turn of events forced him onto a one-stop plan, a strategy initially considered less favourable compared to the dominant two-stop approach recommended by Pirelli.
While most rivals, including Piastri, opted for two stops, Norris stayed out longer on his tires, making a 39-lap stint stretch. This strategic divergence allowed Norris to avoid being bottlenecked behind other cars, giving him the advantage of running in clean air to exploit McLaren's performance at the Hungaroring.
Piastri, on the other hand, was stuck behind Charles Leclerc on a two-stop plan, limiting his pace. In the final laps, Piastri, on fresher tires from two stops, closed in rapidly, nearly colliding with Norris on the penultimate lap during a bold overtaking attempt but ultimately could not pass him.
McLaren admitted they initially expected two stops to be the faster strategy, but the unexpected circumstances from the start reshaped the race. Norris held on to win by six-tenths of a second, marking his fifth win of the season and McLaren's milestone 200th F1 victory.
The race was a tough one for Norris, who admitted that it wasn't quite how they planned it, as it was a bit of a gamble. Piastri gained second place on Norris but couldn't make the pass.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, struggled with balance issues during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Despite this, he managed to finish ninth in his 200th Red Bull race, missing the podium for the fourth race in a row.
Charles Leclerc achieved a surprise pole position in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, despite McLarens dominating practice sessions. However, Ferrari's race strategy was criticised by Leclerc, who complained that it wasn't discussed enough.
George Russell finished third in the Hungarian Grand Prix, while Leclerc, who started from pole position, settled for fourth. Fernando Alonso was among the drivers who passed Norris in the early laps of the race.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, said they should be happy they weren't lapped in the Hungarian Grand Prix, which was relatively lacking in real drama compared to previous races. Lando Norris' pit stop was the fastest of the season, taking 1.9 seconds.
The next Formula 1 race is scheduled for late August in Zandvoort. Lewis Hamilton qualified 12th for the Hungarian Grand Prix, and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back in the upcoming race.
[1] Autosport. (2025). Lando Norris wins 200th McLaren F1 victory with Hungarian Grand Prix triumph. [online] Available at: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/lando-norris-wins-200th-mclaren-f1-victory-with-hungarian-grand-prix-triumph/5725013
[2] Motorsport.com. (2025). Lando Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix to secure McLaren's 200th F1 victory. [online] Available at: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/lando-norris-wins-hungarian-grand-prix-to-secure-mclarens-200th-f1-victory/5725198
[3] Formula1.com. (2025). Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix in thrilling finish. [online] Available at: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.norris-wins-hungarian-grand-prix-in-thrilling-finish.10493032.html
[4] Sky Sports. (2025). Hungarian Grand Prix: Lando Norris wins McLaren's 200th F1 race. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13030/12585153/hungarian-grand-prix-lando-norris-wins-mclarens-200th-f1-race
[5] BBC Sport. (2025). Lando Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/57250996
Sports enthusiasts praised Lando Norris for his impressive racing skills as he secured McLaren's 200th Formula 1 victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, besting teammate Oscar Piastri with a daring one-stop tire strategy. Interestingly, while most rivals, including Piastri, opted for two stops, Norris stayed out longer on his tires, employing a one-stop plan that offered a strategic advantage, allowing him to avoid being bottlenecked behind other cars and run in clean air to fully exploit McLaren's performance at the Hungaroring.
