Lando Norris publicly happy after McLaren’s one-two finish, but bitter all the same

It took three years to see two McLaren drivers back on the top steps of the podium. The last time was in 2021 at the Italian Grand Prix. This Sunday, during the Hungarian Grand Prix, Lando Norris, who secured pole position on Saturday, missed his start once again. Finding himself in third place after battling against Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen at the first turn, and eventually in second place at the start of the race, once Max Verstappen was forced to let him through, he began to chase his teammate in an attempt to win the race.

With up to a 6-second gap, Lando Norris took advantage of a few small off-track excursions by his teammate to come back to less than 2 seconds at mid-race, before the McLaren team orders came into play.

Perform the undercut on his teammate

At lap 45, the team asked the 24-year-old driver to pit before his teammate, who was still leading the race at the time. A surprising strategy as most teams bring in their lead driver first, especially to prevent a safety car situation. While it appears to be a disagreement within the team, radio messages started to be heard from his race engineer asking him to “consider” letting Oscar Piastri through. A decision that the 24-year-old driver initially ignored, not responding, before obeying orders and defusing tensions two laps from the finish.

Passing the checkered flag in second and securing a new podium, Lando Norris didn’t fail to put on a good performance and congratulate the team and his teammate who achieved his very first victory in Formula 1 just like him seven races before.

It was an amazing day as a team. I’m so happy – it’s been a long journey. It wasn’t the easiest race for me at the start, Oscar Piastri had a good start and then he controlled the race well, he was coming back and today he deserves his victory. The team asked me to let him pass, that’s all. I still believe in the constructor championship, we have two good drivers, an incredible team, it will be tough, there is still a lot to do. Today was a tough day but it was our day and it can be completely different, Lando Norris said at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

A feeling of bitterness once the tension has subsided.

On the Canal+ microphone, in the interview area, Lando Norris, however, showed more bitterness, and hopes that these 7 points lost today will not be fatal at the end of the championship. Max Verstappen currently leads the British by 77 points, who could have reduced the gap to 70 points, with 11 races remaining and the sprints, so 310 points still up for grabs.

« It is never an easy thing to give up the lead when you are in front. I did not choose to be in this position. It’s tough, and the team asked me to let him pass, so I did.

« I don’t know [why the team made me come in before, editor’s note]. I feel that letting 7 points slip is a lot when you look at the differences, but I feel that the team trusts me and that in the future it’s important to compete in the championship, and that’s the most important thing today. »

Lando Norris maintains and strengthens his second place in the overall driver standings this season with 189 points behind Max Verstappen with 265 points.