Budapest: McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed his first Formula 1 victory of the 2026 season with a commanding performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix, converting pole position into victory at the Hungaroring. The reigning world champion finished comfortably ahead of Max Verstappen, while Kimi Antonelli completed the podium and extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
The victory ended Norris’ wait for a Grand Prix win this season and handed McLaren its first race victory of the 2026 campaign. The British driver controlled much of the race despite briefly losing the lead during the opening phase.
Norris dominates from pole
Starting from pole position, Norris made a clean getaway before briefly surrendering the lead to teammate Oscar Piastri. However, strategy and pit-stop timing helped the Briton reclaim the lead, after which he steadily pulled away from the field.
He eventually crossed the finish line more than 15 seconds ahead of Verstappen, securing the 12th Grand Prix victory of his Formula 1 career.
Piastri’s race ends in disappointment
McLaren looked set for a strong one-two finish until Piastri’s afternoon unravelled.
The Australian was delayed after an early incident involving Carlos Sainz and later retired with a gearbox problem, ending what had appeared to be a promising race. The retirement opened the door for Verstappen to finish second and Antonelli to take the final podium place.
Antonelli strengthens championship lead
Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli produced another impressive drive, recovering from seventh on the grid to finish third.
The podium extended his advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship heading into Formula 1’s mid-season break, giving the Italian further momentum in an already impressive campaign.
Mixed fortunes for Ferrari and Mercedes
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time world champion received a post-race penalty. Mercedes also endured a difficult afternoon, with George Russell struggling after stalling at the start and finishing outside the leading positions.
What the result means
Norris’ victory gives McLaren renewed confidence after a difficult start to the season and demonstrates the competitiveness of the team’s latest upgrades.
Although Antonelli continues to lead the championship, Norris’ breakthrough win keeps him in contention as Formula 1 heads into its summer break before returning for the Dutch Grand Prix next month.
Conclusion
Lando Norris finally opened his 2026 Formula 1 account with an emphatic victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren celebrated its first win of the season, while Kimi Antonelli strengthened his championship lead with another podium finish, setting up an intriguing battle for the remainder of the campaign.