Champion Norris hands McLaren first win of 2026, Antonelli third

BUDAPEST, July 26 : Formula One champion Lando Norris celebrated McLaren's first victory of the season in Hungary on Sunday while Mercedes's Kimi Antonelli extended his overall lead to 50 points after a day of damage limitation.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was runner-up, 15.080 seconds behind the Briton, with Antonelli third after a likely McLaren one-two evaporated when Oscar Piastri pulled over with a gearbox failure 14 laps from the end at the Hungaroring.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli's closest title rival, finished a close fourth on track but dropped to fifth behind teammate Charles Leclerc after a five-second post-race penalty for speeding in the pitlane when he made a third stop under virtual safety car conditions.

"My pace today was probably some of the best pace I’ve ever had," said Norris, who goes into the August break on a high. "The car was beautiful to drive and I felt very confident, so a great race.

“I’m just happy to be back and see the number one again.”

RUSSELL SEVENTH AFTER START NIGHTMARE

Isack Hadjar was sixth for Red Bull. 

Mercedes's George Russell finished seventh, after a terrible start that dropped him to 19th, and remained third in the overall standings but 59 points behind his 19-year-old Italian teammate.

“I am past the point of disappointment now. If I continue to be disappointed with everything that goes on, I will just be disappointed every day of the week," commented Russell.

Racing Bulls had Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad eighth and 10th respectively with Audi's Nico Hulkenberg between them in ninth.

In the constructors' standings, Mercedes' lead over Ferrari was trimmed to 72 points from 73 after 11 of a potential 23 rounds following Malaysia's addition to the calendar, announced on Sunday.