Lando Norris secured a notable victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 25, ending an eight-month winless streak and delivering McLaren its first triumph of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The race, held at the Hungaroring near Budapest, saw Norris start from pole position, only to lose the lead initially to teammate Oscar Piastri after running wide at the second corner. However, a pivotal moment occurred when Piastri was delayed following a collision with Carlos Sainz Jr. while lapping the Williams driver. This incident allowed Norris, who had extended his stint before making a second tire change, to pit and emerge ahead of Piastri.

Piastri's day came to an end just 14 laps from the finish due to a mechanical failure involving a broken gearbox, which also triggered a virtual safety car period. Norris and the leading Ferraris took advantage of this to make pit stops, while Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli remained on track. Norris was then able to maintain a commanding lead, ultimately winning the race comfortably.

Max Verstappen finished in second place, recovering from an earlier loss of position to Lewis Hamilton but retaking it with an aggressive overtake. Verstappen acknowledged the risk but emphasized control throughout the maneuver. Kimi Antonelli, the championship points leader, completed the podium in third place, extending his lead with a strong strategic drive despite starting seventh due to a grid penalty. Antonelli’s performance demonstrated effective tire management and strategy on a track known for being difficult to overtake.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton crossed the line fourth but was demoted to fifth after a post-race five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, promoting teammate Charles Leclerc to fourth. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ George Russell recovered from a poor start that dropped him to 19th, finishing seventh and remaining third in the drivers’ standings, though significantly behind Antonelli in points.

Norris described his pace during the race as some of the best he has experienced, expressing confidence in the car and satisfaction at returning to the top step of the podium. This victory marked his 12th career win and his second consecutive success at Hungary.

Separately, Formula 1 officials announced the rescheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix, now set to take place in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit on October 4. This will mark the first time in nine years that the series will race at Sepang, reflecting ongoing calendar adjustments.