Piastri celebrates maiden Formula One victory in dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix

BUDAPEST: Oscar Piastri marked a milestone in his burgeoning Formula One career by securing his first victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver led a dramatic one-two finish for the team, with teammate Lando Norris taking second place after being instructed to yield the lead back to Piastri.

Lewis Hamilton also celebrated a significant achievement, claiming his 200th podium with a third-place finish for Mercedes. The race saw late drama with a collision between Hamilton and Max Verstappen, leaving the Red Bull driver to finish in fifth, behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

“This is really the day I dreamed of as a kid, standing on the top step of an F1 podium,” said an elated Piastri, who finished 2.141 seconds ahead of a reluctant Norris before the podium celebrations.

This one-two finish was McLaren’s first since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo triumphed with Norris again in second place to an Australian teammate. Piastri’s victory made him the seventh different winner in the 13 races held so far this season.

Verstappen’s championship lead over Norris narrowed to 76 points from the previous 84. McLaren’s impressive performance also saw them overtake Ferrari for second place in the constructors’ standings, trailing Red Bull by 51 points.