Norris shines as McLaren tighten grip on both titles ahead of summer break

IOL News

4 days ago

Lando Norris celebrates McLaren's 200th Grand Prix victory with a composed drive in Budapest, edging team-mate Oscar Piastri to tighten an all-orange title race ahead of the summer break. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Lando Norris danced his way to a fifth win of the season in Budapest — a victory born not of dominance from the start, but of grit and quiet persistence.
From a slow launch off the line to a forceful final flourish, the Briton pieced together another masterpiece under the Hungarian grey clouds, taming the twists of the Hungaroring when it mattered most to hand his team their 200th Grand Prix victory.
With 14 races done and dusted and the paddock slipping into its summer pause, McLaren stand tall at the top — not just chasing, but commanding both championships. Their run through the first half of 2025 has been a blend of precision, patience and pure performance.
The Surrey-based outfit has held control since the opening round, delivering more podium finishes than any other team and stretching out a remarkable 299-point lead in the Constructors' Championship. The fat lady isn't just warming up — she's already singing. For McLaren, the only real battle from here may be the one happening internally.
Just nine points separate Norris and Oscar Piastri heading into the break. With the title fight shaping up as a two-horse race in papaya orange, here are some key talking points from the weekend:
McLaren's careful management amid a brewing driver duel
Since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 triumph, McLaren have longed for another drivers' title. This season, they've done little wrong. Team orders have been minimal and the atmosphere largely positive — for now.
Given how close the title fight is, it would be natural to expect tensions to flare between the two young stars with everything on the line. Yet, despite being given the freedom to race, both Norris and Piastri have kept things respectful.
But as the pressure ramps up later in the season, the cracks may begin to show. The one with cooler nerves will likely prevail.
Piastri has looked the steadier of the two at times, but it's been just as impressive how Norris, even when things haven't gone his way, has kept himself just nine points adrift — further testament to how well the team has managed a potentially volatile situation.
Verstappen's tough outing continues
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, finds himself in the midst of one of the most difficult stretches of his career. A ninth-place finish in Hungary marked his fourth consecutive race without a podium — an unthinkable statistic for a driver who has defined F1's recent era.
The biggest talking point surrounding the Dutchman wasn't his lacklustre result, but rather a near-miss with long-time rival Hamilton as he attempted to claw back positions.
In a daring move while overtaking a Ferrari struggling on worn tyres, Verstappen forced Hamilton wide — a moment that sparked post-race debate over potential penalties. However, the stewards deemed no further action necessary.
Red Bull's struggles have been glaring. With Yuki Tsunoda often absent from the points, they've effectively operated with one car — and even that hasn't been enough. The break offers a crucial window to regroup, but there's no mistaking the task at hand: closing the gap between their two drivers and salvaging some pride.
Hamilton's dream move off to a slow start
For Hamilton, Hungary brought an unwanted milestone: his worst finish at the venue in 15 years. A frustrating weekend, which saw him finish 12th, capped what has been a disappointing first half of the season with Ferrari — a move once billed as a fairytale now increasingly looks like a misstep.
Adding to the pain, team-mate Charles Leclerc continues to pull clear. The Monegasque has steadily delivered solid results, opening up a 42-point gap over the seven-time world champion.
With one eye already on 2026's regulation changes, Hamilton would have hoped for far more from his debut campaign in red. The upcoming break may be short, but it offers a moment for reflection — and renewed hope for a stronger finish to a fading season.