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Oscar Piastri heads into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix hoping to widen the gap at the top of the drivers’ championship, as he returns to the track where he claimed his maiden Formula One victory.
The 24-year-old Australian, who has already taken six wins from 13 races this season, leads his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 16 points. But Piastri remains cautious as the campaign reaches its halfway stage.
“Going back to the place where I got my first win is always special,” he said. “Budapest is a great city, and the Hungaroring is a fun, technical circuit. But once we’re in the car, it’s all about performance.”
Piastri’s victory at the venue last year came under contentious circumstances. After grabbing the lead from pole-sitter Norris at the start, he lost track position during pit stops. McLaren then instructed Norris to let him through, prompting a team order that delivered Piastri’s first win — and sparked frustration for the Briton.
This time, Norris will be aiming to take matters into his own hands. Despite strong pace and a second-place finish in Belgium — where Piastri overtook him in wet conditions at the rolling start — Norris has lacked the consistency of the ever-reliable Australian.
With McLaren dominating the season so far, racking up 10 victories, another intra-team battle is expected. The team is also chasing a historic milestone — their 200th Formula One win — before the summer break.
Unlike the fast and wet Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring presents a completely different test. The tight, twisting layout, often dubbed “Monaco without the barriers,” demands precision over raw speed. While dry and hot conditions are forecast, thunderstorms could yet disrupt proceedings, adding further unpredictability.
The Hungarian Grand Prix has long been a venue for upsets and breakout performances. Since joining the F1 calendar in 1986, the track has witnessed surprise winners and first-time champions — from Fernando Alonso’s historic maiden win and pole at age 22 in 2003, to Nigel Mansell clinching the title there in 1992.
Two-time champion Alonso returns to Budapest for a record 22nd time, still fondly recalling the circuit where he began his ascent. Meanwhile, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, is desperate to bounce back after a dismal outing in Belgium. The British driver, who holds the record for most Hungarian Grand Prix wins (eight) and poles (nine), is chasing his first podium with the Scuderia.
Also marking a milestone is Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who is set to make his 200th Grand Prix start. Although he has won the last two races in Hungary, the Dutchman no longer holds the dominance he once enjoyed, particularly following the leadership shake-up at Red Bull, with Laurent Mekies now overseeing operations after Christian Horner’s dismissal.
