Norris Ends McLaren Drought in Hungary as Piastri and Hamilton Face Misfortune

Lando Norris converted pole into victory at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, ending McLaren's win drought after briefly losing the lead to teammate Oscar Piastri. While Norris celebrated, Piastri fumed over a clash with Carlos Sainz, and Lewis Hamilton endured a third straight penalty thanks to a Ferrari error.

Why it matters:

Norris's victory reignites McLaren's championship challenge, but Piastri's lost points could prove costly in a tight title fight. Hamilton's third consecutive penalty exposes ongoing strategic issues at Ferrari, while news that Malaysia will replace the postponed Bahrain GP adds fresh uncertainty to the calendar.

The details:

• Norris Triumphs: After losing the lead to Piastri off the line, Norris regained control to end McLaren's drought in convincing fashion.
• Piastri Sees Red: A collision with Sainz while battling for the lead ended Piastri's hopes. Sainz later cited a system failure, though Piastri called it "one of the dumbest things" he's ever seen.
• Hamilton's Woes: A pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car backfired, handing Hamilton his third straight penalty. He labeled Ferrari's decision a clear mistake.
• Russell's Struggles: George Russell endured another poor start, adding to a growing list of setbacks in a frustrating season.
• Calendar Shake-Up: F1 confirmed Malaysia will replace the postponed Bahrain GP, marking the sport's first return to Sepang since 2017.

What's next:

The grid now heads to Malaysia for the replacement round. Norris will aim to build momentum, Piastri must recover quickly, and Ferrari faces mounting pressure to fix its operational errors.