The Hungary Grand Prix 2025, held on August 3 at the twisty Hungaroring in Budapest, was a thrilling race that wrapped up the first half of the Formula 1 season. McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched a dramatic victory, beating teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.698 seconds to secure McLaren’s seventh 1-2 finish of the year. The 4.381-km track, often called the “Monaco without walls” due to its tight corners, tested drivers under sunny 28°C weather, with tire strategy making all the difference. The next race, the Dutch Grand Prix, is set for August 29-31 at Zandvoort, where the championship battle will resume after the summer break.

The race kicked off with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starting from a surprise pole position, leading early on. But Norris, who dropped to fifth at the start, made a bold one-stop strategy work, powering through a 39-lap final stint on hard tires to overtake Piastri, who pitted twice. George Russell of Mercedes grabbed third, capitalizing on a five-second penalty to Leclerc for erratic driving. Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, impressed with an eighth-place finish, earning praise for his smooth overtakes and solid pace in his debut season.

The Hungaroring’s 70 laps challenged drivers with its tricky layout, where passing is tough. Fernando Alonso, despite a back injury, secured fifth for Aston Martin, while Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto shone in sixth. Max Verstappen struggled, finishing ninth after a clash with Lewis Hamilton, who ended 12th. Haas’ Ollie Bearman was the only retirement due to car damage, ending a tough weekend for the young Brit.

This 14th race of the season cemented McLaren’s dominance, with 516 points in the constructors’ championship, far ahead of Ferrari (248) and Mercedes (220). Norris closed the gap to championship leader Piastri to just nine points, setting up an exciting second half after the summer break. The race also marked McLaren’s 200th F1 victory, a historic milestone for the team celebrated by fans worldwide.