TLDR: The one stope prevails for Norris closing the WDC gap going into the Summer break. Mercedes get a podium however Ferrari threw it all away.

Hungarian GP 2025 – Race Recap

Charles Leclerc delivered a stunning lap in qualifying to snatch pole position, but he faced immediate pressure with both McLarens lined up ominously behind. As the lights went out, Leclerc held firm into Turn 1, defending his lead with confidence. Behind him, Oscar Piastri had Lando Norris on his gearbox, but it was Norris who paid the price, his compromised line saw him slip back two positions, falling behind George Russell and Fernando Alonso. Meanwhile, Nico Hülkenberg picked up a five-second penalty for a false start.

By lap 9, Leclerc had carved out a solid lead of 2.8 seconds, opening the door to strategic discussions, particularly around tyre longevity. Piastri, shadowing in second, questioned the viability of a one-stop strategy early on, seemingly uncertain. That hesitation would come back to haunt him. By lap 25, still weighing up the plan, he asked again about the one-stopper, but by then the challenge was already steep.

Max Verstappen blinked first, pitting on lap 18 to attempt the undercut. Piastri responded shortly after, switching to used hard tyres in an effort to leapfrog Leclerc. However, the hards didn’t come up to temperature quickly enough for McLaren, blunting the undercut's effectiveness.

The pivotal moment came on lap 32. Norris boxed for a fresh set of hard tyres and was released in just 1.9 seconds, an exceptional stop that would ultimately win him the race. At a circuit as tight and twisty as the Hungaroring, track position is king, and McLaren played their hand perfectly.

Leclerc delayed his stop until lap 41, while Piastri finally made his intentions clear five laps later, stating he wasn’t concerned about Leclerc anymore and was singularly focused on chasing down his teammate. The Aussie cut the gap to just 0.6 seconds by lap 50 and made his move on Leclerc the following lap, diving into Turn 1 to snatch second place.

For Leclerc, the final stint was a nightmare. After losing out to Piastri, he was also passed by Russell at Turn 1. In a desperate attempt to reclaim the place, Leclerc came perilously close to contact under braking, earning himself a five-second penalty. Thankfully for the Ferrari man, those behind were too far adrift to capitalise.

With just a few laps remaining, the battle at the front came to a boiling point. On lap 68, Piastri was within DRS range of Norris and looked poised to strike. But a heavy lock-up into Turn 1 on lap 69 all but sealed the deal.

Piastri threw everything at it on the final lap, but Norris soaked up the pressure masterfully to take a sensational win, just 0.6 seconds ahead at the chequered flag.

It’s McLaren who march into the summer break with momentum firmly in hand. Piastri may still lead in the standings, but after this commanding drive, it’s Norris who’s riding the wave.

Analysis

Tyre Strategy Analysis:

Strategy proved pivotal in Hungary, with a majority of the front runners opting for a two-stop using mediums hard hard, particularly among the front-runners. Piastri, Leclerc and Russell executed near-identical strategies with excellent tyre conservation. Alternatively Norris went for a one stop Medium hard and managed to secure the win. Notably, Sainz gambled on an aggressive soft-to-hard switch, pitting early on lap 15, but it failed to pay dividends over the race distance. Further intrigue came from drivers like Hülkenberg and Tsunoda, whose two-stop approaches hinted at underlying tyre degradation issues. On a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult, it was the clean, conventional strategies that ultimately rewarded consistency and control however high risk sometimes give high reward.

Race Standings Analysis:

Norris strategy risk taking and flawless drive under pressure contributed to his claim to victory for McLaren. Behind him, the race unfolded with intense mid-pack chaos, particularly between laps 30 and 45, where a flurry of pit stops and on-track overtakes shuffled the order. Oscar Piastri and George Russell climbed solidly to complete the podium with a great , while Verstappen endured a difficult outing, never quite showing pace. Further down the order, the Alpines and had a dismal day, however Bortoletto in the Sauber managed to clinch 6th just behind his manager in Alonso in the Aston.

Pit Times Analysis:

McLaren delivered a masterclass in pit lane efficiency, clocking the fastest average pit time at just 21.01 seconds, comfortably ahead of the field and well under the mean of 22.29s. Ferrari and Red Bull also maintained strong performances in the pit lane, which likely contributed to their solid race results. Conversely, Alpine’s struggles continue as they posted a sluggish 26.01s average, over four seconds off McLaren, a brutal gap on a track like the Hungaroring, where every tenth counts. Sauber also underperformed here, reinforcing the crucial role of slick pit stops in the modern race strategy game.

Summary

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix provided a dramatic and strategic spectacle before F1’s summer break. Charles Leclerc led from pole, but Oscar Piastri and George Russell kept the pressure on. Lando Norris dropped back early after a poor start but recovered with a strong undercut strategy. Verstappen and Hamilton both struggled in the midfield, caught in traffic and unable to make meaningful gains. As strategies unfolded, Piastri passed Leclerc cleanly, while Norris extended his second stint and retained the net lead. A late-race charge from Piastri saw him slash the gap to Norris, but despite heavy pressure and a last-lap attempt, he couldn’t find a way past. Norris held on for a narrow victory, with Piastri second and Russell completing the podium. Leclerc, penalised for erratic defending against Russell, finished fourth. Alonso, Bortoleto, and Verstappen were among the top ten in a race defined by strategy, DRS trains, and tyre management rather than outright pace.

Question

Question of the Week: 1st in the constructors is already a given. Who will second be?

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Standings

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