By Harry Bamforth
Published: | Updated:
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Lap 25 – Race Leaderboard
Here is how things stand after 25 laps.
McLaren have their one-two in tact as Piastri leads from Norris.
Hamilton is flying, but he is under pressure from Max Verstappen as the Red Bull driver eats up the ground.
It’s all getting very interesting.
Lap 25 – Verstappen flying
Max Verstappen is really moving.
He is now with five seconds of Lewis Hamilton in the final podium position and is the faster driver on the track.
Hamilton will be getting nervy…
Lap 23 – Piastri leads
Oscar Piastri hits the front again.
Charles Leclerc decides to pit and now the Australian has raced back into first.
He is over three seconds ahead of Lando Norris.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has just put in the race’s fastest lap…
Lap 22 – Hamilton goes fastest… again
Lewis Hamilton is really in this race, I mean it, he is on for a podium.
He does another fastest lap and is now within two seconds of Lando Norris in third.
Hamilton has to make sure he takes care of the tyres, though.
Lap 21 – Verstappen pits
Here we go then Max Verstappen and Red Bull have chosen to pit.
He comes back out behind Lewis Hamilton in fifth, while Carlos Sainz also pits and falls to ninth.
Hamilton has just done a faster lap, he really is loving this race.
Lap 20 – Top Six
- Verstappen
- Leclerc
- Sainz
- Piastri – one stop
- Norris – one stop
- Hamilton – one stop
Team Radio: Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes team radio:
These tyres definitely have less grip!
Lap 19 – Verstappen leads
Max Verstappen leads the Grand Prix!
Well, sort of, both the McLaren’s pit and with Verstappen staying out he is now out in front.
This is going to get very exciting now. As if it wasn’t already.
Lap 18 – Verstappen stays out
Well, well, well…
Lewis Hamilton has a fantastic out-lap and overtakes Yuki Tsynoda into sixth. he is flying.
Red Bull decide to keep Max Verstappen out and not respond to the undercut.
Very interesting.
Lap 17 – Hamilton pits
Lewis Hamilton is going for the undercut on Max Verstappen.
He pits onto hard tyres as he tries to get the jump on the Red Bull.
Will it work?
Lap 16 – Stroll undercuts Magnusson
This undercut strategy is so powerful…
Lance Stroll is overtaken by Kevin Magnusson, but he pits and within one lap is back out in front.
A brilliant pit strategy.
Lap 14 – Norris three clear of third
I’m very confused at what McLaren just told Lando Norris.
He still seems to be driving well and is racing clear of Max Verstappen in third, the gap is three seconds.
Norris is just over three seconds behind Piastri as it stands.
Team Radio: McLaren
McLaren team radio to Lando Norris:
Your race is with Verstappen, Lando.
That’s an odd statement…
Lap 12 – Leclerc catching Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton may be moving well, but he has a Ferrari sniffing about behind him.
Charles Leclerc moves within one and a half seconds of his Merc, and he senses something here.
Race positions 10 laps in
This is how things stand after lap 10.
It’s very good viewing if you are a McLaren fan, and even Mercedes as they start to make moves.
Oscar Piastri still leads.
Lap 10 – Russell fighting Bottas
Oooh, this is getting tasty…
The man who took Valtteri Bottas’ place at Mercedes a couple of years ago is now fighting to jump ahead of him into ninth.
Bottas is staying strong.
Lap Nine – Hamilton catching Verstappen
Lando Norris is now two seconds clear of Max Verstappen in third, while Lewis Hamilton starts to catch the Dutchman.
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is flying out in front and nearly three seconds ahead of his team-mate.
Lap Eight – Undercuts working
The undercut really has worked to perfection for Kevin Magnusson. he stopped prior to Daniel Ricciardo and now he overtakes him into 17th.
Lots going on to hard tyres and it’s certainly working.
George Russel is staying out there as he started on hards.
Lap Seven – Norris pulls away from Verstappen
Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon both pit as they both attempt an undercut as they change to hard tyres.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen goes out of range of DRS on Lando Norris. The McLaren’s are flying.
Lap Five – Top Five
- Piastri
- Norris
- Verstappen
- Hamilton
- Leclerc
Vertsappen: ‘I got forced off’
Max Verstappen on the team radio:
I got forced off. I was ahead at the apex and he just opened the wheel so I got forced off.
Lap Four – Vertsappen lets Norris past
Lando Norris is back into second place.
Max Verstappen is very happy, but I’m not quite sure why, I think it’s completely fair.
Piastri leads Norris by 2.4 seconds as it stands.
Lap Three
So, Oscar Piastri still leads and he is streaking away from Max Verstappen.
Red Bull are recommending Verstappen let the place back…
He is not happy about it.
Lap One
Lando Norris is complaining over the radio that Max Verstappen needs to give him a place back.
The Dutchman has been noted for gaining an advantage, so the race director is getting involved.
A crazy start to this race!
Race UNDERWAY!
Off they go!
OSCAR PIASTRI LEADS AT TURN ONE…
The top three go into the corner alongside each other and Max Verstappen goes off the track.
Lando Norris falls to third. Oh dear.
Formation lap
How are we all feeling?
I’m extremely excited about this one, it’s going to be glorious.
Lando Norris manages to lead the pack off on the formation lap, I wonder how his throttle is faring?
We have heard that it’s ok, that will be a relief to him.
Race start closing in…
I love the new f1 music, it really gets me hyped.
Sky Sports are currently running through the grid and all I can focus on is the music, it’s a bop.
Anyway, we are closing in on the start.
Sun is shining
Oh, how wonderful is the weather in Hungary?
It’s making me jealous that I am sitting in the UK, its great skies outside of my office.
The drivers are trying to keep themselves cool in such hot conditions. It’s not going to be the nicest to be in the driving seat.
10 minutes to go!
I wonder how Lando Norris is feeling?
There are still a pack of McLaren mechanics surrounding Norris’ care looking extremely stressed.
It looks like it may be solved soon, though.
Norris himself has an umbrella hanging over his head and he looks rather calm.
He starts the race in just 10 minutes time!
First McLaren lockout in 12 years
What a day McLaren had yesterday, one of their best in over a decade.
Their last front-row lockout was back in 2012 when Lewis Hamilton took pole in front of then-teammate Jenson Button at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
However, Button went on to win the race the next day with Hamilton crashing out.
Is that an omen for today?
Maiden win for Piastri?
Well, will Oscar Piastri’s ears prick up after hearing that news?
Probably not, I mean it is his teammate after all.
But with Lando Norris’ car seemingly having problems before the race, it’s a great chance for Piastri to try and take the front.
He is yet to claim his first win in Formula One…
Is today the day that changes?
Team Radio: Norris
Lando Norris, McLaren driver, speaking on the team radio:
Something is definitely not right with the throttle, it’s not how it should be.
Oh dear. A nightmare build-up to the start for Norris.
Vibrant atmosphere
Lots of red, lots of orange, lots of people.
The Hungaroring is as vibrant as it can be as the race closes in with each passing minute.
The sun is out and fans are smiling. They all know they are in for a great day.
It’s what you love to see.
Hamilton: ‘We can’t fight for win in these conditions’
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes driver, speaking ahead of the race:
I’m hoping I can get past the Ferrari but if I can then I’m going to give everything to try and hold onto the McLaren’s. I think in true pace they are still one or two-tenths ahead of us in the race, so it will be tough.
We definitely can’t fight in these conditions for a win, but if it rains then of course that changes things. I don’t see any rain clouds anywhere near.
Last 10 Hungarian GP winners
- 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2022 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2021 – Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- 2020 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2018 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2017 – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
- 2016 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2015 – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
- 2014 – Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
Hamilton to build on British GP win?
What can we expect from Lewis Hamilton today?
Just two weeks ago we witnessed him take his first race victory since 2021, it was a very emotional day for the Brit.
Today he starts fifth and is certainly within a fighting chance of a podium.
With the pressure of that winless streak off his shoulders, it will be interesting to see how he races today.
We know that he loves the Hungaroring – if you stay on this page you will figure out why in just a second…
He certainly seems in high spirits!
Gasly to start from pits
I mean, what does he have to lose?
Pierre Gasly has not had an enjoyable weekend in Hungary thus far as he finished rock bottom in qualifying.
So, he and Alpine decided to install a new control electronics unit and power store in his car.
This means Gasly will start from the it lane.
The Hungaroring
The Hungarian Grand Prix is always one of the races I look forward to most in the season.
It’s a staple of the calendar, you can’t have F1 without a race in Hungary.
So, with that in mind, here are some of the stats you need to know about the Hungaroring:
- Track Length – 4.381km
- Lap record – 1m 16.627s, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2020
- Most wins – Lewis Hamilton (8)
- Pit stop time loss – 20.56 seconds
- Safety Car probability – 25%*
- Virtual Safety Car probability – 25%*
Verstappen: ‘I like being on top of the competition’
Max Verstappen, Formula One standings leader, speaking on Saturday:
I love competition but I like being on top of the competition. At the moment I feel like we are chasing and having a few more difficult weekends, I don’t back out of a fight but it’s just a tricky situation I guess.
Let’s see, the last few races, especially the McLaren has been really good in the race even compared to qualifying. Today was a lot colder than expected I guess with the clouds and the rain, tomorrow is going to be quite a different day and I just hope that will help us.
Verstappen aiming for top step again
I mean, it’s not really been a drought, but Max Verstappen will be desperate to get back onto that top step.
He has failed to claim victory in his last two grand prix, last reigning supreme at the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
I know it’s only been a month, but with the form that Verstappen has been in over the last few years, it’s too many GP’s for him.
He will be desperate to stop the British three-peat.
Third time lucky for Norris?
Today is massive for Lando Norris, and that is an understatement.
He has done the first job of securing pole position, but he knows better than anyone that it doesn’t always guarantee race success.
Prior to this weekend, Norris had two poles to his name from Russi in 2021, and the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Both times he failed to translate them into race victories.
The Russian Grand Prix was particularly brutal as he suffered late heartbreak due to rain after being laps from victory.
He won’t want history to repeat itself today.
The orange takeover…
I feel like I’m back at Euro 2024 all over again.
We saw Dutch football fans in Germany bounce around in their masses prior to all of their matches.
Well, it seems Formula One fans from the Netherlands do the same thing, they are having a whale of a time.
Seeing this always puts a smile on my face.
Norris: ‘I’m expecting to do well’
Lando Norris, McLaren, after claiming pole yesterday:
We are in the best position for whatever the conditions throw at us, I’m looking forward to it. Two cars on the front row, we can control it from there so as long as we stay where we are, we will be happy.
I’m expecting to [do well], if I don’t it’s not been a good day. The car is doing well, I feel like I’m driving well so it’s obvious what the aim is for tomorrow.
The starting grid
I think we should remind ourselves of what positions each driver will be starting in today.
Lando Norris will be leading the pack after claiming only his third pole position in his Formula One career.
Oscar Piastri starts just behind him in a McLaren front-row lockout, while Max Verstappen will be poised to attack early from third place.
There are some big hitters at the back as Sergio Perez starts in a lowly 16th with Geroge Russell a place below him.
Here is the grid in full:
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Max Verstappen
- Carlos Sainz
- Lewis Hamilton
- Charles Leclerc
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Valtteri Bottas
- Alex Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Kevin Magnusson
- Sergio Perez
- George Russell
- Guanyu zhou
- Esteban Ocon
- Pierre Gasly
Norris Hungary for victory
I’m sorry, I just had to…
It’s been a fabulous weekend in Hungary so far and now the time for the show-stopping event is nearly here.
After storming to pole in qualifying yesterday, Lando Norris will lead the pack out at the Hungaroring at 2pm, with his teammate Oscar Piastri just behind him.
Can Norris convert this pole into a victory? We know he has had trouble in the past…
Well, we will find out what Norris has turned up in 90 minutes.
Key Updates
Lap 25 – Race Leaderboard
Norris Hungary for victory