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Expert: Norris would have won Hungarian GP even without Piastri's bad luck
Lando Norris secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Hungary, and experts reckon an incident-free race for teammate Piastri would have changed nothing.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-26T22:57:55.000Z - 2 min read
Lando Norris claimed a dominant victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing his first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The McLaren driver delivered an almost flawless performance at the Hungaroring. This major triumph underscores his potential and the progress made by the team.
Right from the start, Norris demonstrated an exceptional grip on the race. His driving style was characterized by an impressive combination of speed and consistency. He managed to maintain a blistering pace throughout the entire grand prix, allowing him to build a comfortable lead. His focus and precision were striking.
Behind the race leader, teammate Oscar Piastri endured a far more eventful afternoon. The Australian was involved in a collision with backmarker Carlos Sainz during the race. This incident undoubtedly hindered Piastri and disrupted the rest of his drive.
Despite Piastri's setback, consensus among Formula 1 analysts suggests the incident had no direct bearing on the fight for victory. James Hinchcliffe, a well-known F1 TV commentator and former IndyCar Series driver, articulated this view forcefully. Hinchcliffe is recognized for his deep insight and sharp critical eye on the sport.
Hinchcliffe remains firmly convinced that Norris would have beaten teammate Piastri by a wide margin even if the Australian had encountered no trouble. According to the expert, Norris's superior performance was so evident that the incident with Sainz made no difference to the on-track hierarchy. Norris was simply in a class of his own that day, well out of reach for his rivals.
With this victory, the British driver demonstrated that he is in peak form and ready to mount a serious title challenge. His composed and lightning-fast drive in Hungary emphasized his commitment and ambition for this Formula 1 season. McLaren can rightly take pride in the team performance, despite the challenges faced by Piastri.
This dominant victory gives Norris and McLaren a significant boost for the remainder of the season. It proves not only his individual caliber as a driver but also the effectiveness of the team's ongoing developments. The focus now undoubtedly shifts to sustaining this high level of performance in the upcoming races.