Oscar Piastri has been denied another F1 win this season by less than one second, as his teammate Lando Norris pulled off a terrific strategy to win the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Starting third, Norris dropped down to fifth on the opening lap and then fell out of the pitting sequence with the leaders, who all elected to stop twice.
Norris and McLaren gambled on stopping just once and it paid off, with the British driver holding off a fast-finishing Piastri by 0.698 seconds, with Mercedes driver George Russell a distant third.
Pole sitter and early race leader Charles Leclerc looked set for a race-long battle with Piastri for the win, but an apparent chassis issue on his Ferrari resulted in him tumbling to fourth.
Piastri had chances in the final laps, on fresher tyres, to overtake his teammate for the win, but could not make the move stick.
Reflecting on the race, Piastri said the team would analyse whether focusing on Leclerc in the early stages was the right decision, rather than covering off his title-rival teammate who went onto a different strategy.
“I pushed as hard as I could. When I saw Lando going for a one [stop], I knew I’d have to overtake on track, which is easier said than done around here,” Piastri said.
“[Norris] didn’t have much to lose, so it wasn’t a huge surprise.
“I don’t know if trying to undercut Leclerc was the right call in the end.”
Norris was forced into a one-stop strategy while McLaren’s focus for Piastri was on battling Leclerc.
Lando Norris wins in Hungary, with his teammate Oscar Piastri narrowly behind in second place. (Reuters: Anna Szilagyi)
However, the Hungaroring is notoriously difficult to overtake on.
Piastri was able to pass Leclerc with ease in the final stages as he hunted the win, but Norris was too good on a day where, at one stage, a podium place seemed unlikely.
“We weren’t planning on the one-stop at the beginning, but after the first lap, it was our only chance to get back into things,” Norris said.
“I didn’t think it would get us the win, I thought it would get us into second, as I knew the pace was good.
“It’s always a bit of a gamble; it requires good laps and no mistakes.”
Piastri’s lead in the drivers’ championship is nine points as F1 heads into the mid-year break.
Relive all the action of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix on the blog below.
Key Events
Hungarian Grand Prix race classification
That is all for the blog this evening
Thankyou once again
– Pearly
This is where we will end tonight’s Formula 1 live blog.
A brilliant race between the McLaren drivers has resulted in Lando Norris beating Oscar Piastri by 0.698 seconds.
Piastri had his chance, but could not make the move at the end.
Norris lucked into a strategy that ultimately worked, but it required excellent driving to make it work.
F1 now goes on a four-week break.
Piastri leads the drivers’ championship by nine points over Norris, with 10 rounds to go.
This championship fight is just getting started.
We hope you join us for the next race in the Netherlands, on Sunday, August 31.
Goodnight.
Why were Verstappen and Hamilton so far back?
thanks for the updates Michael , just wondering why Verstappen and Hamilton couldn’t make any ground and place higher
– Joel
G’day Joel.
Hamilton qualified down in 12th and spent his whole race in traffic.
Hungary is notorious for being hard to overtake.
Similarly with Verstappen, he pitted very early and reemerged on track behind a gaggle of cars.
This is how close Oscar came to winning, and crashing
McLaren celebrate 200 F1 grand prix victories
It is a special moment for McLaren.
This is the team’s 200th grand prix win.
George Russell thrilled with third place
Mercedes driver George Russell drove a great race today.
His third-place finish was a just reward for a hard day’s work.
“Really happy with the race today,” he says.
“So happy to be back on the podium, as it was a bit dicey with Charles at some points.
“If you commit to a dive bomb and the driver in front moves, there’s not much grip.
“I think we made slight contact, but pleased to make the move.”
Leclerc was penalised for dangerous driving during his battle with Russell.
Oscar Piastri reflects on his second place finish
Oscar Piastri could consider himself a little unlucky today.
His battle for the lead with Charles Leclerc effectively forced him into a two-stop strategy, which most thought was the only winning option.
Lando Norris, being out of the early battle, was forced into a one-stop, which, fortunately for Lando, turned out to be the right strategy.
“I pushed as hard as I could. When I saw Lando going for a one [stop], I knew I’d have to overtake on track, which is easier said than done around here,” Piastri said.
“He didn’t have much to lose, so it wasn’t a huge surprise.
“I don’t know if trying to undercut Leclerc was the right call in the end.”
Lando Norris speaks after winning in Hungary
Lando Norris has produced a stellar drive to win today.
He was fifth after the first lap, and almost had no choice but to attempt a one-stop.
To be able to pull it off was impressive.
“I’m dead. It was tough. We weren’t planning on the one-stop at the beginning, but after the first lap, it was our only chance to get back into things,” Norris says.
“I didn’t think it would get us the win, I thought it would get us into second, as I knew the pace was good.
“It’s always a bit of a gamble; it requires good laps and no mistakes. We are fighting hard, both of us. It is tough but fun racing with Oscar.”
George Russell finishes third
George Russell has finished third, with Charles Leclerc fourth and Fernando Alonso driving brilliantly for fifth.
Lando Norris wins the Hungarian Grand Prix
A great race has been won by Lando Norris.
The Brit has made the one-stop work, and he beats Oscar Piastri by 0.698 seconds.
Lap 70: Piastri is too far back to make a move
Lando Norris about to make the one-stop work.
Lap 69: Piastri lunges and locks his tyres
Oscar came from a long way back and tried to go up the inside.
The Australian locked his tyres and could not pass the Brit.
Piastri has one more chance.
Norris has been getting a great exit out of the final corner.
Lap 68: Norris is holding on as Piastri takes a look
All backmarkers have been cleared.
Oscar Piastri is well within one second.
Track position is so crucial.
In the middle sector, Norris is doing a great job of extending the gap to 0.7 seconds.
At turn one on lap 68, Oscar Piastri took a look up the inside, but he was too far back to make the move.
Lap 65: Oscar Piastri is in DRS range
Oscar Piastri is within one second of Lando Norris.
The McLaren drivers have passed two of the three backmarkers.
Well done to the backmarker, who are getting out of the way of this great fight.
Lap 63: Oscar is in Lando’s mirrors
Oscar Piastri is just 1.5 seconds behind Lando Norris.
However, there is a group of three cars ahead that are all battling for 10th.
This could be an issue for both drivers.
If Norris can clear them, these backmarkers could get in the way of Piastri.
Lap 62: George Russell into third
Great move from George Russell.
He has made a move down the inside at turn one, and he passes Charles Leclerc.
It looked like a crash may come, as the Ferrari driver appeared to move under braking, which is a no-no.
10 LAPS TO GO: Piastri is less than three seconds behind Norris
Oscar Piastri was sixth-tenths quicker than Lando Norris on lap 60 of this race.
Lap 59: Piastri reduces gap to under four seconds
Oscar Piastri will catch Lando Norris.
Catching is one thing — passing is a separate matter.
Backmarkers do not look like they will be an issue for the McLaren duo.
The next car to overtake is Lewis Hamilton in 12th, but he is doing similar times to Norris.
This looks like it will be a straight fight between Piastri and Norris.
15 LAPS TO GO
Lap 55: Oscar Piastri is catching Lando Norris
When Oscar Piastri moved into second place, he was over eight seconds behind Lando Norris.
That gap is now down to 5.5 seconds with 15 laps to go.
Meanwhile, both McLaren drivers have been told there could be rain drops at the end of the race.
www.abc.net.au (Article Sourced Website)
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