Norris wins Hungarian Grand Prix as Hamilton finishes fifth
In the Hungarian Grand Prix Hamilton finished fifth after a five-second pit-lane speeding penalty, as McLaren's Lando Norris claimed his first win of 2026. Max Verstappen took second and championship leader Kimi Antonelli third at the Hungaroring ahead of the summer break.
Key Takeaways
- World champion Lando Norris claimed McLaren's first Grand Prix win of 2026 from pole at the Hungaroring.
- Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull; Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli took third and stretched his championship lead.
- Lewis Hamilton was demoted from fourth to fifth by a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane by 0.1km/h.
- Oscar Piastri retired from second with a gearbox failure after leading much of the first half.
- Antonelli leads Hamilton by 50 points heading into the summer break.
Who finished where at the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Norris converted pole into a commanding win after losing the lead to teammate Oscar Piastri on the opening corners, then recovering with strong race pace. Piastri had led for much of the first half before retiring from second with a gearbox problem.
Verstappen held off Antonelli in a tense late scrap for the remaining podium spots. Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari after Hamilton's penalty, with George Russell seventh after a troubled start. Full live reporting and reaction are available via the BBC Sport F1 live blog.
Why did Hamilton drop to fifth in Hungary?
Hamilton finished the race on Antonelli's tail in what would have been fourth, but a five-second time penalty for pit-lane speeding — exceeding the limit by just 0.1km/h — dropped him behind teammate Leclerc.
Hamilton told Sky Sports he questioned the final stop, saying his tyres "were totally fine" and he thought he "could have kept third at least." He remains second in the standings on 169 points, 50 behind Antonelli's 219.
How do the championship standings look after Hungary?
Antonelli heads into the summer break 50 points clear of Hamilton and 59 ahead of Mercedes teammate Russell (160). Leclerc sits fourth on 138, with Norris now fifth on 128 — within 10 points of Leclerc — and Verstappen sixth on 109.
In the constructors' championship, Mercedes lead Ferrari by 72 points (379–307), with McLaren third on 220 after their winning day. Coverage of how and where to follow the next races is rounded up in our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
What did Norris and McLaren say after the win?
Norris called his pace "some of the best pace I've ever had" and said he believes McLaren can win more races. Team principal Andrea Stella hailed a "great trajectory" of maturity, saying Norris is "more in control of his emotions" and used spare pace at the right time after dropping behind Piastri early.
F1 returns after the break with the Dutch Grand Prix from 21–23 August.