2024 Hungarian Grand Prix – Race Report "This is the day I dreamed of as a kid"

Hungaroring, Sunday, 21 July

Hear from McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as well as Team Principal Andrea Stella, after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

As it happened:

• It’s a tight start. Oscar takes the lead heading into Turn One, Lando moves down to P3 - passed by Verstappen who ran wide to take the place. 
• Verstappen is instructed to give the place back to Lando, who takes P2. 
• Lando boxes and swaps to a Hard tyre. He rejoins the track in P5.  
• Oscar boxes a lap later and also takes the Hard tyre. He comes out in P4 just ahead of Lando. 
• Verstappen and Sainz pit, promoting Oscar and Lando back into the top three. 
• Leclerc now heads into the pit-lane and Oscar is once again the race leader. 
• Lando boxes for a set of Mediums, aiming to cover Hamilton. Lando now in P4 ahead of Hamilton. 
• Oscar boxes and swaps to Mediums coming out just behind Lando. 
• Lando allows Oscar to pass to retake the race lead. 
• Oscar wins his first Grand Prix and Lando completes the 1-2 in Hungary. 

Image
Started  2nd
Finished 1st
Fastest Lap 1m21.716s on Lap 51 (+1.411s, 8th)
Pit stops 2, lap 18 [Medium/Hard] (2.8s) and lap 47 [Hard/Medium] (2.3s)

“A very, very special day. This is the day I dreamed of as a kid, and to be standing on the top step of an F1 podium, with McLaren, is just incredible. While it may have been a little complicated at the end, I think we got ourselves into a good position at the start and then we were in control from there. I want to thank the entire team for an amazing effort and for giving us such a brilliant car. It’s a hell of a lot of fun racing with McLaren, so I can't thank the team enough for giving me the opportunity to be in F1. To now be winning together 18 months in is an unbelievable feeling.” 

Image
Started  1st
Finished 2nd
Fastest Lap 1m21.712s on Lap 50 (+1.407s, 7th)
Pit stops 2, lap 17 [Medium/Hard] (2.6s) and lap 45 [Hard/Medium] (2.9s)

“An amazing day for us as a team, and a huge congratulations to Oscar on his first win. I'm so happy, it's been a long journey to get to achieving wins on merit, and that's exactly what we did today. Oscar had a great start and controlled the race from there, so well done to him – it was only a matter of time before he finished first. I can’t thank the team enough for their work and effort to get us here. Let’s keep pushing and fighting for wins each week.” 

background image

Celebrate in style 3 for 2 on Fanwear & Accessories

Andrea Stella

“Today is a brilliant day for the team. To finish first and second is a testament to the hard work of every single team member at McLaren, for which I would like to thank them for their efforts and contribution to this incredibly positive result. 

“The order of the drivers was altered for the final stint to make the safest call in terms of tyre life and to protect our P1 and P2 finish in case of problems in the pit stops. Lando giving the position back embodies the values of what it means to be part of the McLaren Formula 1 Team and the culture we instil of being one team and putting the interests of the team first. 

 “We now keep our feet on the ground, keep building and will not get complacent. There is still a long season ahead and we need to continue to maximise every opportunity available to ensure we keep consistently scoring points and improving the car. We now look to Belgium for one final race before the summer break.”