No sport does drama quite like Formula 1.
On lap 68 of the 70-lap Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris slowed down to let Australian star Oscar Piastri past – securing the Australian his maiden victory at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Oscar Piastri has won his first F1 grand prix.Credit: AP
Oscar Piastri’s unflinching nerves of steel have long been his calling card, and on the first corner of the first lap at the famous Hungaroring they delivered him his most important overtake to date.
Starting second on the grid alongside Norris, Piastri was squeezed into the first corner on the dirty side of the track, but held his line – emerging from the tight right-hand hairpin with the lead, and holding it.
That overtake proved crucial as 67 laps into the 70-lap race when McLaren sensationally ordered Norris to let him past after Norris was earlier given preferential treatment over Piastri for pit-stop strategy to hold off a rampaging Lewis Hamilton behind them.
Piastri had earned the victory – except for a brief blip where, on lap 33, he dropped some pace when he ran wide. He gapped not only Norris but triple Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen to join Sir Jack Brabham (14 times), Alan Jones (12), Mark Webber (9) and Daniel Ricciardo (8) as an Australian F1 race winner.
But Norris had proved his point – inheriting the lead on lap 45 and pouring on the pace until he eventually relented after frantic pleas from his own team to give Piastri back his rightful place.
“Thank you very much – thanks for the coordination,” Piastri told his team over the radio after he crossed the line.
“Sorry I made the swap a little harder than it needed to be.
Source Agencies
