Source – formula1.com
Oscar Piastri won his first Grand Prix in Hungary following an intra-team incident in which his McLaren teammate Lando Norris responded a bit too slowly to an instruction to give the lead back to the Australian who had been disadvantaged by the team’s pit stop plan.
The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix was a race that will be remembered for Oscar Piastri’s first career victory, but also for the dramatic intra-team battle at McLaren. As the lights went out at the Hungaroring, the McLaren duo and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen went three abreast into Turn 1. Piastri emerged from the chaos as the leader, setting the stage for an intense and memorable Grand Prix.
From the moment Piastri took the lead, he controlled much of the race. However, the dynamics changed during the second round of pit stops. McLaren decided to pit Lando Norris first to cover off Lewis Hamilton. This strategic move saw Norris emerging ahead of Piastri, setting up a tense intra-team situation.
McLaren’s radio communications became increasingly urgent as they instructed Norris to relinquish the lead back to Piastri. For several laps, Norris appeared hesitant, adding to the drama of the race. It wasn’t until Lap 68 of 70 that Norris finally slowed down and allowed Piastri to pass, much to the relief of the team and the fans.
Piastri, now back in the lead, drove impeccably to secure his first Formula 1 victory, finishing two seconds ahead of Norris. The 23-year-old’s triumph was a testament to his talent and composure under pressure. Behind them, Lewis Hamilton claimed the final podium spot for Mercedes after a dramatic race that saw him clashing with Verstappen in the closing stages.
The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while Verstappen dropped to fifth and faced an investigation for his incident with Hamilton. Carlos Sainz brought his Ferrari home in sixth, followed by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who made an impressive recovery from a P16 start to finish seventh.
George Russell also put in a commendable performance, starting from P17 and finishing in eighth place. Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll completed the top ten.
Fernando Alonso narrowly missed out on points, finishing 11th for Aston Martin, just ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, who had a challenging race, ending in 12th despite starting ninth on the grid. Nico Hulkenberg took 13th place for Haas, followed by Alex Albon in 14th for Williams. Kevin Magnussen’s Haas crossed the line in 15th.
Alfa Romeo continued their search for points, with Valtteri Bottas finishing 16th. Williams’ Logan Sargeant followed in 17th, while Alpine’s Esteban Ocon had a tough race, ending in 18th. Zhou Guanyu was the final classified finisher in 19th for Alfa Romeo.
The sole retirement of the race was Pierre Gasly, who suffered a suspected hydraulic leak in his Alpine, ending his race prematurely.
The Hungarian Grand Prix 2024 was a showcase of Piastri’s burgeoning talent and a testament to the competitive spirit within McLaren. It was a race filled with strategy, drama, and a defining moment in the career of Formula 1’s newest star.
