Lando Norris was one of ten drivers affected by a controversial FIA decision following the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. Despite starting third, Norris delivered an impressive drive to claim victory, narrowing his points gap to teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri to nine points. The development involving deleted lap times stirred tension among teams and fans as the race concluded.
During the race, both Norris and George Russell lost lap times for exceeding track limits at turn seven on the same lap. Alongside them, Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, and Nico Hulkenberg—who lost three lap times—were also impacted by similar rulings. Despite the deletions, no driver received penalties for track limit violations, and the official race results remained unchanged.
Race Dynamics and Key Moments on Track
Norris’ one-stop strategy contrasted with Piastri’s two-stop approach, allowing the McLaren driver to maintain better pace in the closing stages. Piastri’s late penultimate-lap attempt to overtake Norris nearly caused a collision, heightening the competition between the two title contenders. Russell, securing third place, joked in the cooldown room that he wished the clash between Norris and Piastri had handed him the victory instead, continuing his solid performance streak in 2025.
Championship Battle Set for a Dramatic Second Half
Heading into the summer break, Piastri holds a slim nine-point lead in the drivers’ championship. With just ten remaining races this season, the title fight has clearly narrowed down to these two McLaren drivers, both pursuing their first world championship victories. Norris brings experience from last year’s near title miss to Max Verstappen, while Piastri currently leads on points.
McLaren’s dominance is further underscored by their near confirmation of the constructors’ championship after delivering four consecutive one-two finishes. This strong team performance ensures both Norris and Piastri can focus on the drivers’ title fight without distractions, setting up an intense and closely contested battle until the season’s final rounds.
What the Future Holds for the Title Contenders
The Hungarian Grand Prix’s FIA decisions have added another layer of complexity to an already intense championship race. Although no penalties were applied, the deleted lap times for Norris, Russell, and others have left fans and teams uneasy about consistency in officiating. As McLaren’s title rivals prepare for the second half, the rulings underscore the fine margins that could decide this year’s world champion.
The summer break provides a crucial pause for teams to regroup before the championship fight resumes. For Norris and Piastri, every point and decision on track will be critical in their quest to claim the ultimate prize in Formula 1, creating a suspenseful buildup toward the season’s climax.
