
Winners and losers from the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix
Lando Norris scored his first win of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix in a race that flipped the usual form book. While McLaren's upgraded package finally delivered victory, Ferrari floundered at a track that should have played to its strengths, and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli stretched his championship lead with an opportunistic podium.
Why it matters:
The Hungaroring offered Ferrari its best shot to claw back ground against Mercedes on a twisty circuit that masked its power deficit. Instead, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth, ceding points in both championships. Norris validated McLaren's first major upgrade, though Oscar Piastri's DNF after a clash with Carlos Sainz cost a likely one-two. Antonelli's third place padded his title lead before the summer break.
The details:
- Norris's breakthrough: He lost the lead to Piastri at the start, used an overcut to retake first, and pulled away with what he called his best pace of the season.
- Verstappen's gamble: Red Bull rolled the dice on a 29-lap soft stint to grab second in an RB22 that was arguably only the fourth-fastest car.
- Antonelli's charge: Capitalizing on Russell's anti-stall issue and Ferrari's collapse, he turned seventh into a podium finish.
- Ferrari's flop: After dominating Friday, execution and strategy let the Scuderia down at its ideal venue.
- Midfield shifts: Aston Martin's upgrade propelled it past Williams, Haas and Cadillac. Nico Hulkenberg scored Audi's first points in ninth, while Liam Lawson led Racing Bulls to eighth and tenth, stealing fifth in the constructors' from Alpine.
What's next:
Ferrari heads into the summer break needing answers for its Hungary collapse, while Williams and Haas have effectively written off the rest of the season to focus on next year's car. Antonelli returns with a healthier championship cushion, and McLaren must prove its winning pace can travel beyond the Hungaroring.
Original Article :https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/winners-losers-f1-2026-hungarian-grand-prix/





