Race Notes - Norris wins Hungarian GP

By Mark Karp

Lando Norris took his updated McLaren-Mercedes to the win in Hungary, after taking pole yesterday.

Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Ford was in second place, 15.080 seconds behind, and Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes GP finished third, 18.828 seconds behind the winner.

It is the first pole and win for Norris this season (after becoming World Champion), and first win since the Brazilian GP last fall. It is Norris’ 12th career victory.

Driver’s Championship leader Antonelli (219) extends his lead over Hamilton (169) by 50 points and Russell (160) by 59.

In the Constructors’ Championship Mercedes (379) leads Ferrari (307), McLaren-Mercedes (220), Red Bull-Ford (177) and Racing Bulls-Ford (66).

Lewis Hamilton finished fourth on track, but had a 5-second penalty for speeding in the pits, so fourth went to his Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc, and Hamilton was demoted to fifth..

Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull finished sixth, followed by George Russell in the second Mercedes, who fell back to 20th on the opening lap, and clawed his way back to finished seventh.

Liam Lawson in the Racing Bull-Ford was eighth, Nico Hulkenberg in the Audi was ninth, and Arvid Lindblad in the second Racing Bull took the final point with a tenth place finish.

Before the start, with temperatures were rising, as well as wind gusting, most drivers expected to start on medium tyres, needing to make two stops.

For the first time this season Mercedes GP didn’t start from the front of the grid, and instead Norris is on pole, and with a three grid spot penalty for Hamilton and Antonelli, Leclerc starts second from the outside of row 1, Piastri and Verstappen start on row 2, Hamilton and Russell on row 3, Antonelli and Hadjar on row 4, and Lindblad and Hulkenberg rounding out the top ten.

Perez starts from the pitlane.

The top thirteen on the grid starting on medium compound tyres, except the two Ferrari's starting on softs.

At the appointed time the cars left the grid for their formation lap, then they lined up on front straight, the lights went out and the race began with Norris getting the lead. Leclerc with a slow start. Through the second turn Piastri passes his team mate Norris, and it is a McLaren 1-2.

At the end of the opening lap the order is Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Antonelli, Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad, and Hulkenberg tenth. Russell is down to 20th.

On lap 3, with soft tyres Hamilton is challenging Verstappen for third.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m25.272s, then continues to be fastest for the next few laps - lap 4 1m25.154s, lap 5 1m25.095s, and lap 6 1m25.030s.

On lap 7 Hamilton stays under one second behind Verstappen. Russell passes Bortoleto for 13th.

On lap 10 Russell passes Ocon for 12th.

Piastri leads Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Antonelli, Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad, Hulkenberg tenth, Pierre Gasly, and Russell in 12th.

On lap 12 Russell passes Gasly for 11th.

On lap 13 Alex Albon goes off track at turn 4, but continues.

On lap 14 Hamilton is the first to pit from fourth place with his soft tyres, and changes to hard tyres, and rejoins eighth.

Verstappen pits the next lap for hard tyres. Hamilton is ahead of Verstappen in seventh.

On lap 15 Valtteri Bottas slowly enters the pitlane with his brakes on fire.

On lap 16 Hamilton passes Lawson, but then Verstappen coming through as well manages to get past Hamilton.

On lap 17 Piastri and Leclerc pit.

On lap 18 Norris pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fourth.

Antonelli and Hadjar, yet to pit, lead, followed by Norris, Verstappen, and Hamilton.

On lap 20 Hadjar pits and rejoins sixth.

Antonelli leads Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Lawson, Russell, Lindblad, and Hadjar in tenth.

On lap 21 Norris sets fast lap at 1m24.374s, and again the next lap at 1m24.349s.

On lap 22 Lindblad pits.

On lap 23 Antonelli pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

Piastri now back in the lead sets fast lap at 1m24.282s.

At lap 25 Piastri leads Norris by 0.9 seconds, followed by Verstappen (4.9s), Hamilton (6.7s), Leclerc (7.9s), Antonelli (12.9s), Russell (21.6s), Hadjar (27.9s), Gabriel Bortoleto (40.0s), Lawson (46.3s) in tenth. Alonso runs 12th.

On lap 28 Russell finally pits from eighth for hard tyres and rejoins ninth ahead of Lawson.

On lap 29 Norris in second place runs off track at turn 4, and drops off his team mate's tail and trails by 1.3 seconds.

Russell sets fast lap at 1m24.279s.

On lap 30 Hamilton pits from fourth for a second set of hard tyres and he rejoins seventh behind Hadjar.

Hamilton passes Hadjar for sixth, then sets fast lap at 1m23.671s.

On lap 34 Piastri pits from the lead for new hard tyres, and rejoins fifth behind Antonelli.

On lap 36 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and he rejoins seventh.

On lap 38 Piastri is blocked by back marker Carlos Sainz.

On lap 39 Norris pits for hard tyres and rejoins third, ahead of Piastri.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Antonelli by 2.8s followed by Norris (9.2s), Piastri (12.0s), and Hamilton (13.4s).

Oliver Bearman spins but continues.

On lap 42 Verstappen pits from the lead for for soft tyres and rejoins in fifth behind Hamilton.

On lap 42 Antonelli leads Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Hadjar, Lindblad, and Bortoleto in tenth.

On lap 46 Norris passes Antonelli into turn 2 to take the lead, with 23 lap remaining.

At lap 50 Norris leads Antonelli by 4.7 seconds, followed by Piastri (9.4s), Hamilton (12.6s), Verstappen (17s), Leclerc (21.9s), Russell (39.0s), Hadjar (50.8s), Lindblad (1m12,4s), and Bortoleto (1m16.2s) in tenth.

On lap 51 Sergio Perez is limping back to the pits to retire with a suspension issue.

On lap 52 Norris leads ahead of Antonelli by 8.5 seconds.

Hamilton in fourth has closed to 2.3 second behind Piastri.

On lap 53 Antonelli pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins sixth behind Leclerc.

Norris leads Piastri by 12.3 seconds, followed by Hamilton in third 1.9 seconds behind him.

On lap 55 Russell pits from seventh for hard tyres and rejoins eighth.

On lap 56 Antonelli sets fast lap at 1m22.508s.

On lap 56 Piastri in second place slows with a gearbox issue and limps back to the pits. The virtual safety is out.

On lap 57 Norrris pits for soft tyres. Hamilton, and Leclerc also pit and take on softs.

Hamilton gets out ahead of Antonelli, but appears to have crossed the track entrance line slightly after Antonelli crosses it.

Later in the lap, Hamilton gives the position back to Antonelli. The virtual safety car has ended.

On lap 60 Norris leads Verstappen, Antonelli and Hamilton. Hamilton on soft tyres is looking for a way to get third and is challenging Antonelli.

On lap 61 Hamilton is being investigated for speeding in the pit lane.

On lap 62 Lindblad, Lawson and Hulkenberg are battling for eighth place.

Antonelli is 0.3 seconds ahead of Hamilton, both struggling to get past back marker Bortoleto.

At lap 65, with 5 laps to go, Norris leads Verstappen by 11.8 seconds, followed by Antonelli (18.4s), Hamilton (19.1s), Leclerc (24.1s), Hadjar (48.9s), Russell (55.8s), Lawson (1 lap), Hulkenberg and Lindblad in tenth.

Hamilton is given a 5-second penalty for speeding in the pits.

McLaren is telling Norris that Piastri’s gearbox failure was perhaps caused by being too aggressive on the curbs.

With two lap remaining Norris leads Verstappen, Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hadjar, Russell, Lawson, Hulkenberg and Lindblad in tenth.

At the checkered flag Norris takes the win over Verstappen and Antonelli.