Relive Mail Sport’s live blog of the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix as McLaren started one and two on the grid including leaderboard and lap-by-lap updates.
A Papaya Party in Hungary
It’s time to say goodbye, what a cracking day it’s been!
McLaren showed that they are the real deal in Hungary with a one-two finish, with Oscar Piastri claiming his maiden Grand Prix win.
It didn’t come without drama with Lando Norris ignoring team orders to allow Piastri into the lead following a pit stop.
However, with just a couple laps to go, the Briton yielded.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton gained two positions to finish third despite nearly being wiped out by a frustrated Max Verstappen near the end.
Thank you for joining us in what was an action-packed day of racing in Hungary, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
I think it’s time for me to have a lie down now. Goodbye!
22:44
Constructors’ Championship standings
Now it’s time to take a look at the team standings.
The one-two for Mclaren means they now sit just 51 points behind Red Bull at the top of the tree. They really are breathing down their necks.
It’s such a close battle this year!
Here is the constructors’ championship in it’s entirety:
Red Bull – 389
McLaren – 338
Ferrari – 322
Mercedes – 241
Aston Martin – 69
RB – 33
Haas – 27
Alpine – 9
Williams – 4
Sauber – 0
22:37
Hamilton: ‘It was a racing incident’
Lewis Hamilton, third-place finisher, on his incident with Max Verstappen:
It’s not nerve-wracking when you see the pace at which they close the gap on corners you just laugh to yourself because it’s not something I can do, particularly on the last sector they were very very strong, same as the McLarens.
I saw him coming from a long way back and he was able to brake a lot later than me, but he sent it up the inside, I stayed still and he clipped the wheel and went over, so I think a racing incident.
22:34
Drivers’ Championship Top 10
Do we have a title race on our hands?
Lando Norris may not have won today, but he is eating down on Max Verstappen’s lead at the top.
This is the most competitive a drivers’ championship has been in a few years, it’s extremely tight all the way down to Sergio Perez in eighth.
Let’s have a look at the top 10 in full:
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 265
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 189
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 162
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 154
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 149
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 125
Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – 124
George Russell (Mercedes) – 116
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 45
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 24
22:26
WATCH: Verstappen collides with Hamilton
Right, we have to talk about this, don’t we?
Max Verstappen cut a frustrated figure all race, he was berating his team over the car and strategy throughout.
On several occasions, he tried to take Lewis Hamilton, but the Briton was just defending so, so well.
Eventually, Verstappen tried the Hail Mary.
Funnily enough, it majorly backfired. A moment of madness took his podium hopes away.
What was he thinking?
22:20
Podium number 200 for Hamilton
Wow, what an achievement!
With all the drama at the top with McLaren, this little statistic snuck by me at the end.
With third place in Hungary, Lewis Hamilton now has 200 podiums to his name in Formula One.
That number is simply insane, it’s hard to comprehend.
The fact is, he is not even done yet. the way he is going he will probably get to 300 and be racing aged 50.
Simply sensational.
22:15
Piastri: ‘I’ve dreamed of this’
More from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, race winner:
Very very special, this is the day I’ve dreamed of as a kid standing on the top step of an F1 podium. A bit complicated at the end but I put myself in the right position at the start and thank you for the team for an amazing car.
It’s a hell of a lot of fun racing with McLaren so I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to be in F1, and to be winning with them 18 months in is an incredible feeling.”
It’s [the car] a beast at the moment, it’s fast in every condition, today we had it under control completely, it was an amazing feeling to be able to manage the race like that with both cars and secure a one-two. I’m incredibly happy for the whole team and get my first win on the board.
22:12
Fan Reaction: Did McLaren make the right move?
Mike, UK: McLaren need a complete mindset change. They now have the quickest car, and Lando [Norris] has a chance to chase Max down in the championship. Switching places is a loser mindset here. And surely as a racer, Oscar [Piastri] would not want his first win to be donated to him?
Anonymous: Lando is McLaren’s best chance of landing the WCC and the WDC. Surely they won’t make him give up the place?? Bad strategy.
22:08
The final leaderboard
Phoar, has everybody got their breath back yet?
The Hungarian Grand Prix usually delivers, and it did yet again. Drama between the McLaren drivers, and Max Verstappen’s moment of madness.
In the end, Oscar Piastri wins his maiden Grand Prix, with his team-mate Lando Norris finishing second, and Lewis Hamilton third.
Goerge Russell and Sergio Perezx also had very impressive drives, rising all the way up to eighth and seventh respectively.
What a race, what a day!
22:04
Laughing Lando
Lando is obviously not too upset, he is smiling on the podium.
The champagne is pooped and all three drivers drench each other before they give it to the McLaren team engineer too.
It may have been dramatic during the race, but it’s all smiles in the McLaren team now.
What a day they have had!
22:02
Did McLaren make the right move?
I want to hear from all of you.
I’m sure you will all have your view on the race strategy that McLaren put in place today.
Would you have given up your place as leader if you were Lando Norris?
I know, McLaren gave him team orders, but not all drivers in the past listened to those.
It’s a major, major talking point.
21:59
Time for the podium
Now it’s time for the presentations.
Lewis Hamilton cooly comes out first and waves to the crowd before Lando Norris then pumps his chest.
Now it’s time for Oscar Piastri…
He raises his arms aloft in celebration nd it’s time for the Australian national anthem.
If he wasn’t emotional before, he certainly will be now deep down.
21:54
Piastri: ‘Switch was the right thing’
Oscar Piastri, race winner, to Sky Sports:
The longer you leave it, the more you get nervous. It was well executed by the team and it was the right thing. I was in the right position to make it happen.
21:52
Norris: ‘I let Piastri in front, that’s it’
Lando Norris, second-place finisher, speaking to Sky Sports:
An amazing day for us as a team, that is the main thing. I am so happy, it’s been a long journey to achieving this. Oscar controlled the race well, it was coming at some point and he deserved it today.
On delaying letting Oscar Piastri in front:
The team asked me to do it and I did it, that’s it.
21:47
Piastri’s time to party!
Oscar Piastri gets out of the car and raises his arms into the sky, he is a Grand Prix winner.
What a moment for the Australian driver.
Lando Norris is first onto the scene to congratulate him despite all the drama in the race.
Then Piastri sprints over to his team to celebrate.
They aren’t the craziest, though, he is such a chilled man. Inside, though, I bet he is beaming with joy.
21:44
Piastri gets the job done
I must admit, I thought Oscar Piastri would be a little more emotional on the team radio, but he is extremely calm.
In fact, he actually apologises for making the swap difficult.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris has made his point and says thank you to the team.
21:41
CHEQUERED FLAG – PIASTRI WINS!
Oscar Piastri wins his maiden F1 Grand Prix in Hungary!
The moment he has been dreaming of has come for the Australian, and it didn’t come without drama.
Lando Norris comes in behind him to take a McLaren one-two with Lewis Hamilton finishing third.
What. A. Race!
21:39
Lap 70 – ONE LAP TO GO!
Lando Norris is making sure his point stands as he stays within one second of Oscar Piastri.
Surely he won’t try and take the lead back, will he?
21:38
Lap 68 – PIASTRI LEADS WITH TWO LAPS TO GO!
Lando Norris yields at last!
He has made his point but on lap 68 he lets his team-mate back in front, Oscar Piastri leads this race.
He simply tells his team not to say anything more.
the drama is surely now over…
21:37
Lap 67 – Verstappen incident to be investigated
The collision between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton is going to be investigated after the race.
I sense a penalty coming Verstappen’s way…
21:35
Team radio: McLaren
McLaren team radio to Lando Norris:
The way to win a championship is not by yourself, it is with the team. You are going to need Oscar [Piastri} and you’re going to need the team.
21:34
Lap 65 – Norris staying stubborn
Lando Norris is not yielding on his point.
He is now nearly six seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri and is pulling away, it doesn’t look like he will relinquish his lead.
McLaren are begging him, but Norris wants to stay out there for now.
Will he change his mind? Five laps to go.
21:33
Lap 63 – VERSTAPPEN IS OFF!
OH MY WORD, MAX VERSTAPPEN IS OFF THE TRACK!
He brakes late as he tries to go down the inside and Lewis Hamilton turns into him.
The Red Bull flies into the air after the collision and somehow manages to keep his car in the race.
But he drops down behind Charles Leclerc into fifth.
Verstappen could have a penalty coming his way, that was very silly and could have been a lot worse.
21:30
Lap 62 – Hamilton defends Verstappen
Guess what? Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are battling again.
Verstappen tries to go around the outside of Hamilton but the Mercedes driver does what he has done all race.
He stays in third.
21:29
Team Radio: McLaren
McLaren team radio:
McLaren pit wall: Lando, just remember every single Sunday morning meeting we have.
Lando Norris: Tell him to catch up please!
McLaren are pulling out all the stops to try and convince Lando Norris to move aside.
21:26
Lap 58 – Norris not taking team orders
Lando Norris is simply not listening to his team at the moment.
If anything his anger is making him fly even faster, he is now over four seconds in front of Oscar Piastri.
Norris does normally swap places, but as they keep speaking to him over the team radio, Norris just simply ignores them.
This could get messy for McLaren in the long run.
21:23
Lap 57 – Verstappen overtakes Leclerc
Max Verstappen, that is a brilliant move!
He finally gets his man, drifting past Charles Leclerc and now he sets his sights on third place.
How quickly can he get to Lewis Hamilton?
21:22
Team Radio: McLaren
McLaren once again ask for Lando Norris to let Oscar Piastri in front, but Norris is not happy.
He replies by saying ‘Surely you should have pitted him first’.
He gets back: ‘It doesn’t matter’.
It certainly does to Norris, and he makes that clear. It’s all getting a bit tetchy.
21:21
Lap 55 – Verstappen all over Leclerc
Max Verstappen is doing exactly what he was doing to Lewis Hamilton earlier to Charles Leclerc.
But just like Hamilton, Leclerc is fending him off for now, but he is in a spot of bother.
21:18
Lap 53 – Piastri still second
I honestly couldn’t tell you which way this will go.
Oscar Piastri is still struggling to catch Lando Norris, will he manage to reach him?
McLaren have a decision to make. It would be very harsh on Piastri but Max Verstappen is flying, and they have to keep that in mind.
21:16
Lap 52 – Top Five
Norris (McLaren, two stops)
Piastri (McLaren, two stops)
Hamilton (Mercedes, two stops)
Leclerc (Ferrari, two stops)
Verstappen (Red Bull, two stops)
Sainz (Ferrari, two stops)
21:14
Lap 50 – Norris hits the front
Well then, we have our answer.
McLaren ask Lando Norris to give Oscar Piastri the place back when it’s possible.
But Norris then hits the front as Max Verstappen pits, if anything he is extending his lead.
21:10
Lap 47 – Norris undercuts Piastri!
Here we go then, Ocar Piastri is now in the pits.
Lando Norris has been storming through the track with his medium tyres and he now leapfrogs Piastri!!
McLaren tell Piastri not to worry about Norris, though
This is going to be interesting, how will it play out?
21:09
Lap 46 – Norris pits
McLaren pull the trigger and they call Lando Norris into the pits, not Oscar Piastri.
They are desperate to keep this one-two intact, Norris will now push hard. Can he take his teammate?
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo overtakes Valtteri Bottas to move into 11th.
21:07
Lap 44 – Leclerc hunting Hamilton
I think we have another battle on our hands here.
Charles Leclerc has pitted twice, so has Lewis Hamilton, and now the Ferrari is hunting him down.
They are currently 5th and 6th, but remember the drivers in front have not pitted.
21:04
Lap 42 – Piastri staying strong
Oscar Piastri is not following the Lewis Hamilton strategy, he stays out.
He is slowly starting to build his lead on Lando Norris toward two seconds again, he has finally settled.
They have just shown a replay of Piastri going off track a few laps ago… Explains the drop in pace.
21:01
Lap 41 – Hamilton pits
Mercedes make their move, Lewis Hamilton pits on lap 41!
That means he will have 29 laps on his second set of hard tyres, that’s an extremely long time.
Will the undercut work again? he comes out onto the track into fifth.
21:00
Lap 40 – Hamilton stays in third
This feels like the good old days doesn’t it?
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fighting for position, this is incredible, and Hamilton is just about clinging on.
Charles Leclerc suddenly comes up to the back of Verstappen…
20:58
Team Radio: McLaren
McLaren team radio to Lando Norris:
You’re ok to race the Papaya car [Piastri].
20:57
Lap 38 – Hamilton defending
Lewis Hamilton is fighting for his life to stay in third.
Max Verstappen keeps breathing down his neck, but Hamilton just about stays in front.
Surely, his defence will come undone soon, but it’s one hell of a battle.
20:55
Lap 36 – Leclerc fastest
Charles Leclerc is creeping up on Max Verstappen, he is quietly the fastest out on track.
Don’t count the Ferrari driver out of this one, he is going race-leading pace right now.
20:53
Lap 35 – Verstappen goes wide!
This is fantastic racing!
Max Verstappen manages to squeeze past Lewis Hamilton as the Brit goes wide, but he can’t hold onto the position.
The Dutchman then goes wide and moans to the team radio about his breaks. Hamilton holds on.
At the back, Pierre Gasly’s nightmare is over, he is forced to retire in his Alpine.
20:52
Lap 34 – Verstappen hounding Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is clinging on to third place.
Max Verstappen is within one second of the Mercedes driver and is all over him.
Somehow, he stays out in front.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri’s time has just fallen off a cliff after I praised him. Commentator’s curse.
20:49
Lap 33 – Piastri coasting
Oscar Piastri is having the race of his life.
His tyre management has been excellent and he is just seeking out more and more time from them.
That maiden F1 victory is under 40 laps away…
20:47
Lap 31 – Perez drifts past Magnusson
Oh, that is lovely overtaking from Sergio Perez.
He takes Kevin Magnusson beautifully as if he is not even there, and then maintains DRS to build a gap.
He is now in 12th.
20:44
Lap 29 – Hamilton slowing
Lewis Hamilton’s pace is falling off a cliff.
Max Verstappen is now within two-and-a-half seconds of the British driver, and chunks are being taken out of that gap every lap.
I feel the Dutchman will take third place pretty soon, the way it’s going.
20:43
Lap 27 – Alonso takes Hulkenberg
That is Fernando Alonso at his best.
The Aston Martin driver tries to take Nico Hulkenberg but he doesn’t risk it at first.
20 seconds later, he does, Hulkenberg locks up and Alonso flies past him.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri casually puts in the fastest lap of the race.
20:41
Lap 25 – Race Leaderboard
Here is how things stand after 25 laps.
McLaren have their one-two in tact as Piastri leads from Norris.
Hamilton is flying, but he is under pressure from Max Verstappen as the Red Bull driver eats up the ground.
It’s all getting very interesting.
20:39
Lap 25 – Verstappen flying
Max Verstappen is really moving.
He is now with five seconds of Lewis Hamilton in the final podium position and is the faster driver on the track.
Hamilton will be getting nervy…
20:37
Lap 23 – Piastri leads
Oscar Piastri hits the front again.
Charles Leclerc decides to pit and now the Australian has raced back into first.
He is over three seconds ahead of Lando Norris.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has just put in the race’s fastest lap…
20:36
Lap 22 – Hamilton goes fastest… again
Lewis Hamilton is really in this race, I mean it, he is on for a podium.
He does another fastest lap and is now within two seconds of Lando Norris in third.
Hamilton has to make sure he takes care of the tyres, though.
20:34
Lap 21 – Verstappen pits
Here we go then Max Verstappen and Red Bull have chosen to pit.
He comes back out behind Lewis Hamilton in fifth, while Carlos Sainz also pits and falls to ninth.
Hamilton has just done a faster lap, he really is loving this race.
20:33
Lap 20 – Top Six
Verstappen
Leclerc
Sainz
Piastri – one stop
Norris – one stop
Hamilton – one stop
20:32
Team Radio: Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes team radio:
These tyres definitely have less grip!
20:30
Lap 19 – Verstappen leads
Max Verstappen leads the Grand Prix!
Well, sort of, both the McLaren’s pit and with Verstappen staying out he is now out in front.
This is going to get very exciting now. As if it wasn’t already.
20:28
Lap 18 – Verstappen stays out
Well, well, well…
Lewis Hamilton has a fantastic out-lap and overtakes Yuki Tsynoda into sixth. he is flying.
Red Bull decide to keep Max Verstappen out and not respond to the undercut.
Very interesting.
20:27
Lap 17 – Hamilton pits
Lewis Hamilton is going for the undercut on Max Verstappen.
He pits onto hard tyres as he tries to get the jump on the Red Bull.
Will it work?
20:26
Lap 16 – Stroll undercuts Magnusson
This undercut strategy is so powerful…
Lance Stroll is overtaken by Kevin Magnusson, but he pits and within one lap is back out in front.
A brilliant pit strategy.
20:24
Lap 14 – Norris three clear of third
I’m very confused at what McLaren just told Lando Norris.
He still seems to be driving well and is racing clear of Max Verstappen in third, the gap is three seconds.
Norris is just over three seconds behind Piastri as it stands.
20:22
Team Radio: McLaren
McLaren team radio to Lando Norris:
Your race is with Verstappen, Lando.
That’s an odd statement…
20:21
Lap 12 – Leclerc catching Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton may be moving well, but he has a Ferrari sniffing about behind him.
Charles Leclerc moves within one and a half seconds of his Merc, and he senses something here.
20:20
Race positions 10 laps in
This is how things stand after lap 10.
It’s very good viewing if you are a McLaren fan, and even Mercedes as they start to make moves.
Oscar Piastri still leads.
20:19
Lap 10 – Russell fighting Bottas
Oooh, this is getting tasty…
The man who took Valtteri Bottas’ place at Mercedes a couple of years ago is now fighting to jump ahead of him into ninth.
Bottas is staying strong.
20:17
Lap Nine – Hamilton catching Verstappen
Lando Norris is now two seconds clear of Max Verstappen in third, while Lewis Hamilton starts to catch the Dutchman.
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, is flying out in front and nearly three seconds ahead of his team-mate.
20:15
Lap Eight – Undercuts working
The undercut really has worked to perfection for Kevin Magnusson. he stopped prior to Daniel Ricciardo and now he overtakes him into 17th.
Lots going on to hard tyres and it’s certainly working.
George Russel is staying out there as he started on hards.
20:13
Lap Seven – Norris pulls away from Verstappen
Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon both pit as they both attempt an undercut as they change to hard tyres.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen goes out of range of DRS on Lando Norris. The McLaren’s are flying.
20:11
Lap Five – Top Five
Piastri
Norris
Verstappen
Hamilton
Leclerc
