Budapest, July 26, 2026: Reigning World Champion Lando Norris secured his and McLaren’s first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a commanding performance at the Hungaroring.
Starting from pole position, Norris initially lost the lead to teammate Oscar Piastri into Turn 2. However, Norris maintained relentless pressure throughout the opening stints. The race shifted dramatically during the pit stop strategy windows and took a decisive turn on lap 56 when Piastri was forced to retire due to a gearbox issue while leading.
Norris inherited the lead and controlled the race until the checkered flag, crossing the finish line comfortably ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in second place. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli produced an impressive recovery drive to complete the podium in third position.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed fourth, while teammate Lewis Hamilton finished fifth following a five-second time penalty.
”I’m very, very happy to be back on top. The team brought upgrades this weekend and everyone worked incredibly hard. It feels amazing to finally get our first win of the season,” Norris remarked following his victory.
