Official F1 Journal Formula One Sunday Round Up - Hungarian GP

Oscar Piastri becomes a grand prix winner after a dominate driver in Hungary. McLaren crossing the line in 1-2 but vibes in the paddock might not be a sweet as they would like following a brilliant result as team orders have left a nasty taste with Norris.

A bold mistake from Verstappen lands him in fifth with a potential penalty on the way, Hamilton went unscathed finishing the race in 3rd.

©MCLAREN MEDIA

TOP 10

1. PIA            +1:38.01
2. NOR          +2.141
   
3. HAM          +14.88
   
4. LEC           +19.686
5. VER          +21.349
   
6. SAI            +23.073
   
7. PER          +39.792
   
8. RUS          +42.368
   
9. TSU          +77.259
   
10. STR          +77.976
    

Budapest heats up to 44 degrees celsius and McLaren under pressure as mechanics fix Norris's throttle on the grid.

A fighting start as the McLaren of Oscar Piastri over takes his teammates to take the race lead as Verstappen goes wide in the first corner, Norris struggles to not get swolled by the pack behind. 

Alex Albon had a solid start who goes from 13th into 9th, Ocon who's managed a 5 place jump to 14th and Magnussen who goes into 10th for that last points position unlike his teammate Hulkenberg who's loses his 11th place after going into the pit after tangling with someone at the start. 

George Russell starting down in 17th on hards unlike the top of the field who are on softer tyres, Mercedes going for a longer first stint strategy as an attempt to repair yesterdays problematic qualifying. The Brit managing to make p10 by lap 10, helped by Ocon, both Williams and Haas' who pitted to join the Merc on hards. 
These early pits looked to have paid off as Hulkenberg gets the fastest lap.

Back up front Piastri is grows his lead now +3.5s faster than the rest.
Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas joining the top 10 runners, while Perez is still on the outside in 11th. 

Mercedes go for the undercut on Verstappen on lap 17th putting on hards, coming out in 7th. Norris follows suit as his race is "with Verstappen" and stays ahead of Tsunoda and Hamilton in 5th, Piastri comes into the pit after growing a 8 second lead but Redbull don't retaliate going for a different strategy leaving Verstappen to lead the race. 

With fresh tyres Hamilton is gaining ground and Norris is falling into danger. 
The Ferrari, side by side, opt for plan C as Sainz is the first of the reds to pit. Sainz now joined by Verstappen as the pair head back on track. The spaniard appearing in ninth and Verstappen in fifth behind Hamilton who continues to set the fastest lap. The papaya Aussie now back out front widening the gap once more.

24 laps in and Charles goes into the pit, yet to pit are Tsunoda, Russell who is now up in seventh, Perez and Gasly. Yuki still on mediums. 

The fastest lap being shared in todays race as Verstappen takes it off Hamilton and Leclerc takes it off Verstappen. ​

©ALPINE MEDIA

By lap 30 George becomes the only driver yet to pit and stuck +13.7 behind Sainz.
At the back of the grid Albon is having a less than positive race after a slow second pit but nothings worse than Gasly's sunday who retires with a  suspected a hydraulic leak. 

Half way through the race, lap 35, Russell finally makes his first pit for mediums. Piastri is slowing and Norris begin to gain on his fellow McLaren, who's now given the go ahead to race for the lead. 

Hamilton and Leclerc go in for their second tyre change, Hamilton on to the hards hoping to make it too the end but Leclerc is on mediums.

​​"we let oursleves get undercut and completely •••• my race!"
- Max's radio

With a lead from the field the McLaren's are preoccupied with themselves as the garage attempt to convince work out how to handle the papayas with out is losing a 1-2 result. Lando now out front after the pair pitted increasing the game between him and Piastri even though he's be asked to give the Aussie his position back. 

©MCLAREN MEDIA

Heading into the final race stint McLaren struggle to tame Norris who continues to deny team orders and increase his gap from Oscar. 

​​​"We should have boxed him first then, surely, no?"
- Norris's radio

Into the final 6 laps and Verstappen steams down the inside of Hamilton to lock up and is bounced into the air, noted by the Stewards making Perez's points incredibly vital who's in seventh. With 2 laps to go Norris, second in the championship, gives into team orders and Piastri receives his position back.

​Oscar Piastri crosses the line to recieve his maiden win.

©FORMULA ONE

Bronwen Jones
​Writer @ F1 Journal