The 6 biggest storylines for the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix

Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Here are the biggest storylines facing the F1 grid as the circuit heads to the Hungaroring

Fresh off a dramatic Belgian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 world heads to the revamped Hungaroring (more on that in a moment) for the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix.

The final race before the grid will go silent for the annual summer shutdown.

Before then, let’s dive into the biggest storylines facing the grid ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Over to you Lando Norris

With his win in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix earlier this season, Oscar Piastri climbed into P1 in the Drivers’ Championship race, by ten points over teammate Lando Norris.

But on two different occasions, Norris trimmed Piastri’s lead into the single digits. First came the Monaco Grand Prix, where the British driver’s victory (and a third-place finish from Piastri) saw Norris pull within just three points of Piastri.

Then came the British Grand Prix, Norris’ second consecutive victory. That home win pulled Norris to within eight points of Piastri.

However, Piastri went out each time and won the next race. After Norris pulled to within three points of him in Monaco, Piastri went out and took the victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, pushing his lead back to ten points. Then, after a bitter second-place finish in the British Grand Prix, Piastri bounced back with his victory at Spa, extending the gap to Norris out to 16 points.

Piastri’s ability to respond each time his teammate closes in is notable, and it fits with his steely demeanor. That demeanor was put to the test with his penalty at the British Grand Prix, putting perhaps the biggest question yet in front of the young driver.

But he responded with a resounding victory, easing back ahead in the title race.

Over to you, Mr. Norris.

Hungary 2024, one year later

Given where we began, it makes sense to revisit the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Despite Norris taking pole position, he would finish second that day as Piastri secured his first F1 Grand Prix victory.

It was not without some … post-race discussion.

Norris lost the lead to Piastri shortly after the start, and the two were running up front with Piastri in the lead during the second cycle of pit stops. Mercedes pitted Lewis Hamilton, who was in third, on Lap 40 and bolted on a set of hard tires for him to run to the end of the race. McLaren, to cover off Hamilton, pitted Norris from second on Lap 45, and he rejoined the fight down in fourth. But McLaren brought Piastri in on Lap 47, and when he came back onto the track, he was behind his teammate.

That touched off a lengthy discussion on the McLaren pit wall (which played out for those watching at home through various snippets of team radio) during which the team instructed Norris to swap positions with Piastri and give him the place back … and likely the win. Messages to Norris from race engineer Will Joseph became increasingly desperate, with Joseph stating on Lap 51 that “I know you’ll do the right thing,” and then “you proved your point and it really doesn’t matter” followed by “Lando I’m trying to protect you, mate. I promise I’m trying to protect you” on Lap 63.

Eventually, Norris gave the place back, and Piastri had his first F1 Grand Prix win.

But in the aftermath of that win, how the team handled the situation was the subject of considerable debate. For his part, Norris conceded that he was always going to give the place back, and he expressed some regret at how he handled the situation.

“It’s such a stupid thing that I didn’t because we’re free to race,” Norris said after the race. “I could just let him pass and still try to race and overtake him. It sounds so simple now, but it’s not something that went through my head at the time.

“The fact we had a one-two and that was barely a headline after the race – nothing was really spoken about it from that side – that’s the bit I felt worst about,” added Norris.

“But it’s the things that I could have done; the fact that I clouded over Oscar’s race win, his first race win in F1, is something I’ve not felt too proud about.”

Now McLaren, and their two drivers, are back at the Hungaroring a year later.

With those two drivers fighting for more than a win, but a Drivers’ Championship as well.

The fight for second in the Constructors’ Championship

While McLaren has driven off into the distance, making the fight between teammates Piastri and Norris in the Drivers’ Championship chase the tightest battle at the sharp end of the grid, there are still some fascinating races to watch throughout the sport.

Starting with the race behind McLaren for second.

In the early portion of the season, Mercedes led that fight, followed by Red Bull and then Ferrari. But in recent weeks, Ferrari and Mercedes have traded spots behind McLaren, and after the Belgian Grand Prix, it is Ferrari sitting in second with 248 points, 28 points clear of Mercedes.

The past three race weekends have not been kind to the Silver Arrows. After they secured a double podium in Montreal, with George Russell winning the Canadian Grand Prix while Kimi Antonelli scored his first F1 Grand Prix podium with a P3, they have added just 21 points since then.

Meanwhile, Ferrari has added 65 points, vaulting them ahead of Mercedes.

After their disappointing weekend in Belgium, Mercedes has called for a “big meeting” to try and right the ship. But with Ferrari learning more about their recent upgrades over each lap, can the Scuderia hold Mercedes off … and could the door be opening for Lewis Hamilton to secure his first Grand Prix victory in red?

Then there is Red Bull, certainly never to be counted out with Max Verstappen. But perhaps most notable is what happened with Yuki Tsunoda at the Belgian Grand Prix, Laurent Mekies’ first race as Team Principal. Mekies decided to put an upgraded floor on Tsunoda’s RB21 (rather than save it as a spare part for Verstappen), and Tsunoda responded with a P7 in qualifying for the Grand Prix. While a “miscommunication” saw Tsunoda tumble out of the points when the team made a late call for a pit stop, after he had already passed pit lane, Tsunoda’s qualifying performance gives Red Bull and their fans some hope for improved production out of the second seat.

Do not sleep on the midfield fight

Then there is the fight in the midfield behind the “top four.”

Williams remains comfortably ahead in fifth with 70 points, 27 points ahead of sixth-place Sauber. But the teams behind Williams are all bunched together. Sauber is in sixth with 43 points, followed by Visa Cash App Racing Bulls with 41, Aston Martin with 36, and Haas, thanks to the six points that Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman combined for in the F1 Sprint race on Saturday, sits in ninth with 35 points.

Just eight points separate those four teams.

Even Alpine, sitting tenth with 20 points, remains in striking distance. And let’s not forget, last year they were mired at the back of the grid until a stunning double podium in São Paulo rocketed them up the standings. Just one good weekend from any of these teams could reset this entire battle.

Don’t sleep on this fascinating fight in the middle of the grid.

A revamped Hungaroring awaits the grid

In the wake of the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, substantial upgrades were made at the Hungaroring.

Upgrades include the paddock, the main grandstand, and the main building, and according to F1, “[t]he construction project is one of the biggest in Hungary and, when complete, will transform the Hungaroring into the country’s largest event venue and sports facility.”

The main paddock will not be fully completed for this week, as the “outside of the building will look as if it is completely finished but only the pit garages and the first floor will be used as intended, as per the initial plans, with organisers locating the media centre and race control on a temporary site.”

However, that should be completed well ahead of the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Last month, the circuit hosted media members at the Hungaroring for a first glimpse of the upgraded circuit. On that day, Zsolt Gyulay, Chairman and CEO of Hungaroring Sport Zrt., outlined the transformation.

“Every element of the new main building and grandstand has been designed to ensure world-class experiences for the drivers, teams, and fans alike. While construction won’t be fully completed until next year, and this year’s setup is transitional, from the outside it’s already a stunning, modern, internationally acclaimed venue taking shape before our eyes.

“I extend heartfelt thanks to the Hungaroring team, our colleagues responsible for the development, the construction consortium, and everyone who contributed in any way to this transformation.”

For more on the revamped Hungaroring, which will host the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, you need to be following Sándor Mészáros, who will be your host for the festivities. In an industry filled with tremendously kind and brilliant journalists, Mészáros stands out, and you’ll want to follow his work not just during his home race this weekend, but all season long.

Calm before the storm?

This weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix marks the final race before F1’s summer shutdown, a mandated break for the entire grid.

However, the start of the summer shutdown often kicks the driver transfer market into high gear.

Of course, the persistent rumors over Max Verstappen’s future gave the driver transfer market an early jolt, but all signs are pointing to Verstappen staying with Red Bull through at least 2026.

But with six drivers (George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, and Yuki Tsunoda) on deals that expire at the end of the season, and two more seats being added for next year thanks to Cadillac, the upcoming driver transfer market could be rather chaotic.

To put it mildly.