World champion Norris wins Hungarian GP for first victory of 2026, Verstappen second

[p]Red Bull's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] was second with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a] ‌third after a likely McLaren one-two evaporated when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] pulled over with a mechanical failure ‌14 laps from the end at the Hungaroring.[/p][p]Ferrari's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a], Antonelli's ‌closest title rival, finished fourth on track but dropped to fifth behind teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles ‌Leclerc[/a] after a five-second post-race penalty for speeding in the pitlane.[/p][p][b]"My pace ‌today was probably some of the best pace I’ve ever had,"[/b] said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Norris[/a]. [b]"The car was beautiful to drive and I felt very confident, so a great race.[/b][/p][p]“I’m just happy ‌to be back and see the number one again.”[/p][embed guid="5e78b18a-99a4-4821-ba84-2728c67932f9" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2081390007705538862" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Russell seventh after start nightmare[/h2][p]Mercedes's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]George Russell[/a] ‌finished seventh, after a disastrous start that dropped him to 19th, and remained third ​in the overall standings but 59 points behind his 19-year-old Italian teammate.[/p][p]The win from pole position was Norris's 12th victory, and second ​in a row in Hungary, but it could have been Piastri's day after the Australian took the lead on the opening lap from third place ⁠on the starting grid.[/p][p]His chances ​then took a literal blow when a collision with back-marker Carlos Sainz's Williams delayed him enough to allow Norris, who had stayed out longer before a second change of tyres, to pit and come out ahead.[/p][p]Piastri's retirement triggered a ‌virtual safety car, with Norris and the Ferrari drivers pitting while Verstappen and Antonelli stayed out.[/p][p][b]"I didn't expect to be on the podium today. But we worked hard for it," [/b]said Verstappen, who lost out to Hamilton after the first pitstop but took the place back with a bold overtake a lap later.[/p][p][b]"I saw the opportunity. It was my only one. I just went for it. We're good on the brakes, so t[/b][b]hat helped, but it was all under control,"[/b] said the four-time world champion.[/p][embed guid="a4149e3c-e393-4a33-811b-8d3aa03630db" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2081392145814954181" social-type="twitter" /][p]Antonelli had started seventh ‌after a three-place grid penalty but completed a day of damage limitation ​better than might have been expected.[/p][p][b]"It was really hard to overtake so ‌we had to do something with strategy,"[/b] said the Italian. [b]"Initially we tried to go for the one stop but then they told me the tyre was too much on the limit, so we stopped.[/b][/p][p]"With the Virtual Safety Car the two Ferraris boxed. I knew it would be ⁠very hard because I was on ⁠hards, they were on softs, ‌but luckily we were able to keep them behind."[/p]