Oscar Piastri returns as leader to scene of first F1 win
BUDAPEST – Oscar Piastri has got used to winning since his first victory in Hungary last year, and the Australian returns as Formula One leader looking to take a tidy advantage over McLaren teammate Lando Norris into the August break.
The 24-year-old has won six of 13 grands prix so far this season, already more than any driver from his country has ever managed in a single year, and leads his British rival by 16 points with 11 races remaining.
'I'm really excited to go back. It's always a fun weekend. It's a great city, a cool track as well,' said Piastri after winning a rain-delayed race in Belgium last weekend in McLaren's sixth one-two of the season.
'I'm sure Thursday will be nice to go back to where I had my first win. But as soon as we get on track, you forget about that immediately.'
Hungary – hot and twisty and with a layout more like an overgrown go-kart track that makes overtaking tricky – puts a premium on qualifying.
Norris took pole last time in Hungary but lost out to Piastri at the start, recovered the lead when the Australian suffered a slower pitstop and was then ordered by the team to hand back the place.
The Briton eventually complied but it rankled at the time and he will be looking to win on Sunday without any such controversy.
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With McLaren dominant, and historically the most successful team in Hungary, the stage is set for another duel between the teammates.
After the rainstorms in the Ardennes forest at high-speed Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring circuit 25km north of the capital represents a very different challenge – a sinuous and slow track with one straight dubbed 'Monaco without the barriers'.
It also offers very different weather with very warm and sunny conditions expected, although there are thunderstorms threatening, making it a twisting and technical challenge for teams and drivers.
Whoever joins the McLaren duo on the podium remains an open question but this could be the moment Lewis Hamilton has been waiting for with Ferrari, while teammate Charles Leclerc has had five podiums already this season.
Hamilton has an unrivalled record at the Hungaroring with eight wins and was third last year, admittedly in a Mercedes, behind the McLarens. He also has nine poles at the circuit outside Budapest.
'In the last few races, we've made progress in terms of competitiveness, and in Belgium, thanks to a lot of hard work back in Maranello, we introduced an upgrade package that further improved our performance,' said team boss Fred Vasseur.
'It will be interesting to see how the updated SF-25 performs on a completely different track, twisty, with plenty of medium and low-speed corners. Charles and Lewis are both in good form, and the team is also performing well.'
George Russell set the fastest lap last year for Mercedes but his team have made some wrong turns in development and have work to do, with Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli also keen to get back in the points.
'After a tough weekend in Belgium, we are looking to put in a more competitive showing,' said team boss Toto Wolff.
'Our performances in recent races have not been up to our standards, and we have work planned to both understand why that has been and get on top of it this weekend.'
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, winner in Hungary in 2022 and 2023, will be starting his 200th race for Red Bull.
The race is the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who took his first win at the circuit with Renault in 2003, has raced in more than half of them – this being his record 22nd. REUTERS, AFP
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