Coaching for Norris

New York Times

4 days ago

Follow live reaction as McLaren earns its 200th grand prix victory at the Hungaroring Getty Images
Lando Norris held off his charging McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri, to claim victory in a captivating Hungarian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc had held the lead from pole until the second round of pit stops, when Piastri found the performance required to get by the Ferrari.
From there he hunted down Norris, who was attempting to get to the end of the race after just one pit stop. But Norris kept his cool to stay ahead over the final laps and take the checkered flag.
F1 now departs for its summer break, with action resuming for the Dutch Grand Prix on the final weekend of August.
Result: 1 NOR, 2 PIA, 3 RUS, 4 LEC, 5 ALO
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LAP 16/70 — Lando Norris is getting some coaching on the radio to try and catch George Russell.
He was told the main loss was at minimum speed at Turn 8, then Turn 10. He's now just been told to take a wider line — an extra car width — at Turn 2 as it's faster.
These little but significant details are things he's been working on with his engineer more this year. Getty Images
LAP 14/70 — Lando Norris has the fastest lap, while Franco Colapinto and Nico Hülkenberg have both made their first stops.
Already some talk over what will be best to do from here — as well as trying to make this a one-stop race.
Front of the race is as you were, although Fernando Alonso is now 11 seconds behind Norris and backing up those behind.
As expected, five seconds are dished out to Nico Hülkenberg. Seems fair — he was moving long before the lights changed.
LAP 11/70 — Oof, a replay of Isack Hadjar's hand getting hit by gravel kicked up from the car in front wasn't pretty.
No wonder he has said over team radio how much it hurt!
Meanwhile, Lando Norris is given the hurry-up to get past George Russell, being told that Fernando Alonso is holding up the pack behind.
Norris has more pace, but this again feels like a small recovery that he shouldn't have needed to do in the first place.
LAP 10/70 — Fast moving stuff from the officials. Gabriel Bortoleto has been cleared, but Nico Hülkenberg will now face a full stewards' investigation for his jump start and will almost certainly pick up a five-second penalty to be served at his first pitstop.
Bortoleto now free to continue in P6. Getty Images
LAP 9/70 — Charles Leclerc knew the start would be crucial and he's building a nice lead at the front, almost three seconds clear of Oscar Piastri now.
McLaren's car has been able to hold up well particularly at the end of stints this year, and we're only eight laps in, so a way to go.
Piastri's just been given the call to push a bit more too.
LAP 8/70 — Nico Hülkenberg is facing the same investigation as Gabriel Bortoleto in the other Sauber — although now F1 has shown the start replays, the second Sauber's start looked far more blatantly ahead of the lights changing.
LAP 6/70 — Gabriel Bortoleto is shining in sixth and ahead of Max Verstappen, but he's just been pinged for allegedly moving before the lights went out at the start.
That's usually an automatic five-second penalty, but race control officials are assessing it right now. Getty Images
LAP 5/70 — Speaking of the Ferraris, Charles Lerclerc is showing promising early pace here.
His lead over Oscar Piastri is already heading towards three seconds, which compares favorably to everyone else.
LAP 3/70 — Better news for Lando Norris, who swiftly gets back past Fernando Alonso. That feels important for him, albeit with a lot of work still to do.
Max Verstappen gets by Lance Stroll to sit P7 too.
But it's looking tricky right now on the hard tire for Lewis Hamilton. He's seen Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz (on the softs) fly past to leave the second Ferrari P14.
LAP 2/70 — Not a good start at all for Lando Norris. He moved to the inside at Turn 1 but boxed himself in a bit behind Oscar Piastri, allowing George Russell and then Fernando Alonso to get past him. Getty Images
LAP 1/70 — Horrible start for Lando Norris. He's down to P5 simply by losing places.
It didn't even look that untidy!
LAP 1/70 — Away we go with the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix!
All of the top 10 are starting on medium tires today. Lewis Hamilton is on hards for the first stint, meaning it will be a long run before he comes in for his first stop.
Pierre Gasly is also on hards.
Carlos Sainz, Nico Hülkenberg and Alex Albon are on softs.
Here we go. The formation lap is up and running.
Charles Leclerc flies away quick-sharp. Getty Images
Turn 1 is going to be all important today.
When Oscar Piastri was asked yesterday in the news conference after qualifying if there was anywhere else to overtake, he wryly joked:
💬 'The pit lane.'
Overtaking is very tough around here with so little grip offline.
The first lap will be crucial. Getty Images
The cars have made it round to the grid, where temperatures are several degrees cooler than they have been.
There is even the odd shower around if you look hard enough, although right now it seems unlikely they'll affect this race.
Lights out is almost with us… Getty Images
Guns N' Roses lead singer songwriter Axl Rose is here!
Don't cry if you see him first later either — he's set to wave the checkered flag at the end of the race.
And with that it will be Paradise City with top step on the podium.
(Sorry)
Williams leaning hard into the appearance of a meme legend on the Hungaroring grid.
There is a Lewis Hamilton or Alex Albon punchline to be had here involving Hide The Pain Harold following qualifying yesterday...
But I'm not going there.