The 2025 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix brought the first half of the championship season to a close, just before the traditional summer break. It was a race defined by strategic decisions, and in the end, it was the McLaren Formula 1 team that emerged victorious. Lando Norris claimed the win, while others, especially Scuderia Ferrari, were left to reflect on their mistakes and missed opportunities. The Maranello-based outfit was again haunted by a mysterious issue that brought back memories of past struggles. These are the key takeaways from the race weekend at the Hungaroring.
Ferrari defeated by a mysterious issue
Scuderia Ferrari has a lot to consider during the upcoming summer break. Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton appears to be sinking deeper into a difficult moment. His disappointing qualifying session was followed by an equally underwhelming race, with the British driver unable to make any real progress. He lost positions at the start and eventually finished the race exactly where he had started: in 12th position.
However, what is perhaps even more concerning for Ferrari is the performance of Charles Leclerc. For a large portion of the race, it appeared that the Monegasque driver was in a strong position to fight for victory and hold onto first place. But during the final stint of the race, there was a troubling and sudden drop in performance. Leclerc was overtaken on track by both Oscar Piastri and George Russell.
After the race, both Charles Leclerc and the Ferrari team mentioned a potential chassis issue, but the comments made by George Russell and the analysis from the Sky Sports F1 team suggest a different story. According to various sources, it is more likely that Ferrari was forced to increase tyre pressure, possibly to avoid excessive wear on the plank and stay within the legal ride height limits. This could explain the significant loss of pace in the final laps.
McLaren shines with a strategic masterclass from Norris
While Ferrari was left picking up the pieces, McLaren capitalised brilliantly on the situation. The real star of the day was Lando Norris. Although Oscar Piastri spent most of the race in close pursuit of Charles Leclerc, it was Norris who made the most of the circumstances. After an early mistake that saw the British driver drop to fifth place, he managed to regain a position and, somewhat paradoxically, found himself with more strategic options than the two drivers ahead of him.
Unlike both Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, who committed to a two-stop strategy, Lando Norris gambled on a single pit stop. It was a bold move that paid off handsomely. Despite a tense battle with his McLaren teammate in the closing stages, Norris triumphed with a perfectly executed one-stop strategy. Together, Norris and Piastri delivered McLaren’s fourth one-two finish of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Russell takes advantage as Red Bull disappears
While McLaren enjoyed success, it was George Russell of Mercedes who arguably benefited the most from Ferrari’s troubles. The British driver had been running in fourth place from the very beginning and looked set to finish just off the podium. But when Charles Leclerc’s pace dramatically dropped, Russell quickly closed the gap. Despite Leclerc’s efforts to hold him off — including receiving time penalties — there was little he could do. Russell made the overtake and snatched a surprising but well-deserved podium finish.
On the other hand, Red Bull Racing delivered one of their weakest performances of the season. The reigning world champions were virtually invisible throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix. The second driver was completely off the radar, and even Max Verstappen was uncharacteristically quiet. After starting from eighth on the grid, the Dutchman lost a position early on, found himself stuck in a DRS train, made a tyre change, overtook Lewis Hamilton in a decent wheel-to-wheel battle, but ultimately had no significant impact. Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in ninth place, a disappointing result for a team with championship aspirations.
The unsung heroes of the Hungarian GP
Special recognition should go to the surprise performers of the weekend. Following a strong qualifying performance on Saturday, Aston Martin confirmed its solid pace at the Hungaroring on race day. The Silverstone-based team secured valuable points by finishing fifth with Fernando Alonso and seventh with Lance Stroll. It was a much-needed boost for Aston Martin, who will head into the summer break with renewed confidence after securing an excellent result in Budapest.
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