DPA
Budapest
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won his maiden Formula One Grand Prix in Hungary on Sunday but only thanks to a team orders controversy which forced title challenger Lando Norris to hand his Australian team-mate victory.
The Briton, on pole, was overtaken by Piastri on the first corner but team tactics with their second pit stops left Norris ahead. He was ordered by the team to let the Australian pass for the victory and after a big radio spat, he gave way two laps from the end.
Norris was upset as he is standings leader Verstappen’s nearest rival and the gap has only been cut to 76 from 84.
It was still resurgent McLaren’s first one-two in a race since Italy in 2021.
“This is the day I dreamed of as a kid, standing on the top step of an F1 podium,” said 23-year-old Piastri after his first win in 35 F1 races.
“It’s a hell of a lot of fun racing with McLaren,” Team mate Norris tried to play down the team orders row, saying: “The team asked me to do it, so I did it and that is it.” Double world champion Verstappen finished fifth after contact with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton sent his car momentarily into the air and knocked the Red Bull driver back.
Hamilton was third, a record 200th F1 podium, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth.
Norris started on pole in the Budapest heat alongside Piastri, with Verstappen third on the grid.
The Dutchman went off the track on the first corner and Piastri emerged ahead, with Verstappen returning in front of Norris, who demanded on the radio that the Dutchman give him the place back.
Verstappen, who had a spat with former good friend Norris when they collided when leading in Austria, said he was given no option by the Briton but to exit the track.
Red Bull advised Verstappen to hand the place back and not risk a bigger penalty from the Hungaroring stewards. The standings leader did so but swore on the radio, before adding: “OK, so you can force people off the track now.”
Piastri began to pull away from Norris, who in turn kept clear of Verstappen.
Hamilton, in fourth, was also on Verstappen’s tail and decided to pit early to try to undercut the world champion.
Norris followed suit after lap 18 of 70 and Piastri after 19, leaving Red Bull with a tricky decision over whether to switch tyres early or not.
They decided to keep Verstappen out there until lap 22 and he came out behind Hamilton.
The Briton pitted again after lap 41 but his rivals stayed out initially, Norris coming into the box first among the other contenders and Piastri following.
The Australian emerged behind Norris, who set a fastest lap at the perfect time. But Norris was asked to give the lead back to Piastri when possible because the latter had pitted first for an advantage.
Norris was less than impressed with his team on the radio given he is Verstappen’s main rival in the title race.
Verstappen found himself in the lead but on a wearing second set of tyres and boxed after 49 laps, appearing again in fifth. A foul-mouthed rant at his engineer followed over the radio before he overtook Ferrari’s Leclerc.
The Dutchman was called “childish” by his own team on the radio for his moaning.
His dramatic collision with Hamilton sent him back into fifth and seemed to boost Norris’ argument that he should take the win for the good of the championship.
His team felt differently, with engineer Will Jospeh saying: “We know you will do the right thing. The way to win a world championship is with a team and you are going to need Oscar and you are going to need the team. You have proved your point.”
The engineer later told Norris to angrily “do it now” and despite going full pelt to try to avoid it, he eventually made way for Piastri on lap 68.
Next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix is the last before the mid-season break.
The Hungaroring will undergo significant renovations from Monday having become one of the most outdated F1 tracks on the circuit. It is still on the 2025 calendar.
