Lando Norris grabs first race win of season in Hungary, Max Verstappen second

BUDAPEST: World champion Lando Norris claimed his first win of the season and 12th of his career with a resounding triumph for McLaren ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Sunday’s helter-skelter Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Briton, who started from pole position but had to recover after a poor opening lap, came home 15 seconds clear of four-time world champion Verstappen with world championship leader Kimi Antonelli finishing third for Mercedes.

The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton ended up fourth and fifth ahead of Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull, George Russell in the second Mercedes and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.

Nico Huelkenberg scored his first points of the season in ninth place for Audi ahead of rookie Arvid Lindblad in the second Racing Bulls.

Norris repeated his success last season at the Hungaroring where McLaren have won for the last three years.

Antonelli’s determined drive, in a frantic race of divergent tire strategies, lifted him 50 points clear of Hamilton in the championship.

“Beautiful,” said Norris on team radio. “The car was unbelievable today! Flying!

“It’s probably the best pace I’ve ever had,” he said “This track is good for us.”

Verstappen was critical of his car, but happy to claim another podium finish.

“I didn’t expect it today — we had to work very hard for this,” he said.

Antonelli said it had been a hard race.

“It was so tough to overtake, but it is the best result for me to go into the break and now we can keep pushing.”

The race began in scorching heat with the highest temperatures of the weekend — 31 Celsius (air) and 51 (track).

Ferrari gambling on soft tires for the start while all the started on mediums.

Oscar Piastri made