Lando Norris had a tough pill to swallow at the Hungarian Grand Prix when he gave up the victory to his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.
Norris admitted it “hurts” to relinquish a win while fighting for his first Formula 1 title; however, he maintained it was the “fair” thing to do. At the start, Piastri seized the lead while Norris battled with Max Verstappen. Eventually, Norris’s race strategy allowed him to undercut Piastri, briefly putting him in the lead.
But McLaren’s team orders were clear: Norris had to let Piastri through. Despite the frustration, Norris complied, pulling aside with only three laps remaining. “It was tough,” Norris said, “When you’re leading the race and have to give it up, it hurts. But Oscar deserved it; he drove a better race.”
Norris highlighted the significance of McLaren’s first one-two finish since 2021. Despite his personal disappointment, he expressed pride in the team’s achievement. “It’s incredible for everyone; we were quick all weekend,” he noted. Norris’s frustration also stemmed from another failed opportunity to convert pole position into a win. He plans to review the race to understand what went wrong with his start.
Despite the internal competition, McLaren’s success in Hungary showcased their growing strength. For Norris, the focus remains on improving and seizing future opportunities.
