A new chapter in Formula 1 starts with the thrilling Belgian Grand Prix as we gear up for the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring.
This marks the last race before the summer break where the grid will be quiet for a while.
Before we dive into the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, let’s explore one of the most intriguing stories on the grid.
To Rand Norris
This season, Oscar Piastri briefly held the top spot in the driver standings, sitting 10 points ahead of his teammate, Rand Norris.
Yet, Norris managed to narrow that gap on two occasions. The first was at the Monaco Grand Prix, where he clinched victory while Piastri finished third, reducing the lead to just three points.
Then there was Norris’ win at the British Grand Prix, pulling him within 8 points of Piastri.
But each time Norris made progress, Piastri responded. After closing the gap at Monaco, Piastri won the Spanish Grand Prix, pushing his lead back to 10 points. Following a strong finish in second at the British GP, Piastri capitalized with a win at Spa, widening the gap to 16 points over Norris.
It’s impressive how Piastri consistently answers back when his teammate catches up. His resilience, especially after facing a penalty at the UK Grand Prix, shows a steely determination—likely a challenge for any young driver.
Still, he handled it well with a dominant win, staying strong in the title race.
Now, let’s talk about Norris.
Hungary 2024, a Year Later
Reflecting on last year, it’s worth revisiting the events at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2024.
Piastri snagged his first F1 victory while Norris finished second, although Norris initially secured pole position.
It led to quite a bit of post-race chatter.
Norris lost his lead to Piastri right at the start, with the two racing ahead, Piastri leading after the second round of pit stops. By lap 40, Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton in third, was making their move. McLaren called Norris in for a pit at lap 45; he returned in fourth place after his pit stop. Piastri was brought in at lap 47 but came out behind Norris.
During the race, there were discussions among the McLaren team. They instructed Norris to let Piastri pass for a potential win, and that message seemed to grow more urgent. The race engineer emphasized, “I know you’ll do the right thing,” and followed up with, “I’m trying to protect you.”
Norris eventually relinquished his position, allowing Piastri to claim his first victory in F1.
However, the aftermath of that race sparked much debate regarding the team’s handling of the situation. Norris admitted he should’ve let Piastri lead sooner, expressing regret. He reflected, “It’s quite foolish that I didn’t do that because we race freely.”
Norris felt that their finish as a 1-2 didn’t garner as much attention as it should have, a sentiment that perhaps still weighs on him.
Now, McLaren’s two drivers are back at it, a year later.
They are not just racing for wins; they’re also in the midst of a battle for the drivers’ championship.
Second Battle in the Constructors Championship
McLaren is establishing a strong lead among its drivers, Piastri and Norris, competing fiercely for the drivers’ championship. This season still has some thrilling races ahead.
Currently, McLaren sits well ahead in the Championship standings.
Early on, Mercedes was leading, with Red Bull and Ferrari closely following. However, recently, Ferrari and Mercedes have swapped places behind McLaren. After the Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari has tallied 248 points, putting them 28 points ahead of Mercedes.
The last few weekends have not been kind to Mercedes, with only 21 additional points scored since George Russell’s win at the Canadian Grand Prix and their podium finishes in Montreal.
Meanwhile, Ferrari has gained 65 points, pulling ahead considerably.
Following a disappointing race in Belgium, Mercedes held a “big meeting” to strategize how to improve. Meanwhile, Ferrari continues to capitalize on recent upgrades, potentially making it more difficult for Mercedes to catch up and leaving the door open for Lewis Hamilton’s first Grand Prix win in the new car.
Red Bull, while still featuring Max Verstappen, is also in the mix. Notably, Yuki Tsunoda had a promising first outing under new team principal Laurent Mekies during the Belgian race, showing potential for improvement.
Don’t Sleep on the Midfield Battle
Then there’s the midfield tussle behind the top four.
Williams has accrued 70 points, holding a 27-point lead over sixth-placed Sauber. The positions among the teams trailing Williams are tightly contested. Sauber has 43 points, Visa Cash App Racing has 41, Aston Martin follows with 36, and Haas rounds out the group with 35 points from Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
Just 8 points separate these four teams.
Even Alpine, in 10th place with 20 points, remains within contention. Last year, they were at the back of the pack but managed a dramatic double podium finish in Sao Paulo. A strong performance from any of these teams could completely change the landscape.
This midfield battle is one not to overlook.
Improved Hungaroring Awaits the Grid
The Hungaroring will showcase major upgrades in 2024.
Improvements include new paddocks and grandstands, marking one of the largest construction projects in Hungary. Upon finishing, it will turn the Hungaroring into the country’s premier event venue.
While the exterior appears nearly complete, the main paddock won’t be finished this week; only select areas will be operational for this event.
It’s expected these renovations will be completed well in advance of the 2026 race.
Last month, media members at the circuit got a glimpse of the upgrades, and the chairman and CEO of Hungaroring Sport Zrt., Zsolt Gyulay, detailed the ongoing transformation.
“Every element is crafted to provide a world-class experience for drivers, teams, and fans. Although full completion is still a year away, this year’s setup promises an impressive venue,” he stated.
Gyulay also expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the project.
More insights into the upgraded Hungaroring as it prepares for the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix will be shared later. I’ve enjoyed following the work of Sándor Mészáros throughout the season; he’s a standout in this space.
Did You Settle Before the Storm?
This weekend marks the Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the summer break in Formula 1—a mandatory pause across the board.
These breaks often elevate the driver transfer market’s buzz.
Among the persistent rumors is Max Verstappen’s future, which has certainly turned heads in the transfer market. However, it looks like Verstappen will remain with Red Bull at least through 2026.
There are six other drivers whose contracts will expire this season—George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, Isaac Hajar, and Yuki Tsunoda—adding to the intrigue for next year.
So, time will tell what comes next.
