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MOTORSPORT: Australian Oscar Piastri wins his first Formula 1 GP

MOTORSPORT: Australian Oscar Piastri wins his first Formula 1 GP

Melbourne youngster joins motorsport elite after McLaren team orders drama in Hungary

Both Webber (2010) and Ricciardo (2014) have previously achieved victories in Hungary.

The race was anything but smooth. McLaren issued team orders, causing Lando Norris to swap positions with Piastri after their positions were accidentally swapped during the final pit stop.

The Briton belatedly complied with the request, recording the team’s 49th one-two finish and the first since Ricciardo led Norris at Monza in 2021.

“(It’s) very, very special,” Piastri said.

“This is really the day I dreamed of as a child: standing on the top step of a Formula 1 podium.

The podium (left to right): Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton

“Of course it was a bit complicated at the end, but I put myself in the right position from the start. And thanks to the team for the great effort and the great car.

“It’s been so much fun racing for McLaren, so I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to be in Formula 1 and to be able to win together for 18 months. It’s an incredible feeling.”

Qualifying saw McLaren’s first front row exclusion since 2012. The two Papaya cars then raced hard into the first corner of the race, with Piastri getting the upper hand while Max Verstappen (Red Bull) went wide to take second position.

Eventually Piastri took the lead from Verstappen and Norris, although Verstappen, at the request of his team, had to pass Norris on the fourth lap of the 70 minutes and dropped back to third place.

Lando Norris passes Max Verstappen

On lap 46 Norris made his final pit stop to continue the advance of Lewis hamilton (Mercedes), taking the lead when Piastri pitted a lap later, although the McLaren team immediately ordered Norris to drop back to second position.

After a late stop, Verstappen was on a comeback trail, passing Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) for fourth place on lap 57. However, as he passed Hamilton for third place on lap 63, he locked up and flew off the front wheel of the Mercedes.

Verstappen returned to the track in fifth place.

After pleading with the McLaren pit wall for several laps, Norris finally slowed down to let Piastri pass with three laps to go.

Behind Piastri and Norris at the chequered flag were Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Sergio Perez (Red Bull), who crashed heavily in the first qualifying phase, and George Russell (Mercedes), another driver who fought his way up from the back of the field.

Yuki Tsunoda (RB), who also finished qualifying in the wall, and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) completed the points finishes, while Ricciardo (RB) finished in twelfth place.

Piastri remains fifth in the drivers’ standings, while his McLaren team is second in the constructors’ championship, ahead of Ferrari, a sign of the changed pecking order after the 13th of the 24 races scheduled for 2024.

The Formula 1 season continues next weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Results 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix Formula 1:

  1. 1.

  2. 2.

  3. 3.

  4. 4.

  5. 5.

  6. 6.

  7. 7.

  8. 8.

  9. 9.

  10. 10.

    Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

  11. 11.

    Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

  12. 12.

  13. 13.

  14. 14.

  15. 15.

  16. 16.

  17. 17.

  18. 18.

  19. 19.

  • DNF. Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2024 Formula 1 Championship Standings:

f1 hungary 2024 1296875
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