Australian driver Oscar Piastri won his maiden Formula One race in a dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix, completing a McLaren one-two with Lando Norris second and Lewis Hamilton third. Piastri’s win came after a tense exchange with his colleague, Norris, who briefly led due to a pit-stop strategy but eventually followed team orders to allow Piastri to recover the lead.
“This is the day I dreamed of as a kid, standing on the top step of the podium,” Piastri, who is 23, told reporters.
Hamilton took his 200th career podium, while points leader Max Verstappen finished fifth behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Despite his recent problems, Verstappen still leads the standings by 265 points to Norris’ 189.
Radio drama highlighted McLaren’s victory as Norris initially refused to let Piastri pass. After much coaxing from the squad, Norris gave in with two laps to go.
Piastri’s victory is his first in 35 Formula One races, making him the fifth different winner this season. The Hungarian Grand Prix begins the second half of the season, with the Belgian Grand Prix following on July 28.
