Australian driver Oscar Piastri secured his maiden Formula One victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two finish. Lando Norris, under team orders, ceded the lead to Piastri three laps from the end, amidst a tense race filled with drama.
Lewis Hamilton claimed third place for Mercedes, marking his 200th Formula One podium, despite a late clash with Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen, who suffered more from the incident and finished in fifth place.
Piastri expressed his joy, stating, "Very, very special. This is really the day I dreamed of as a kid, standing on the top step of an F1 podium." He acknowledged the complexity of the race's conclusion but credited his strong start and the team's exceptional effort and car.
The race saw Piastri take the lead from pole-sitter Norris at the start, while Verstappen briefly took second after cutting a corner. Verstappen was later required to relinquish his position, and Piastri maintained the lead until Norris's second pit stop strategy.
McLaren instructed Norris to restore the original order at his convenience, but Norris initially resisted, increasing the gap between them. The team eventually convinced Norris to comply, though he expressed dissatisfaction in his post-race interview.
Meanwhile, Verstappen was frustrated with his car's brake balance and questioned the team's strategy, expressing his discontent over the radio.
