A glorious 1-2 victory for McLaren at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix was somewhat dampened by team-order controversy after Oscar Piastri overtook pole man Lando Norris at the start of the race.
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After strategy calls allowed Norris to reassume the lead from his teammate, McLaren ordered the 24-year-old to let Piastri back through.
Constant debate on the team radio ensued, but Norris eventually conceded on lap 68, allowing Oscar Piastri to take his maiden Grand Prix victory.
Speaking on becoming a Formula 1 race winner, Piastri was cool and calm as usual, but understandably proud.
Triumphant Piastri
“Very very special, this is the day I’ve dreamed of as a kid standing on the top step of an F1 podium,” said Piastri to Sky Sports.
“A bit complicated at the end but I put myself in the right position at the start and thank you for the team for an amazing car.”
“It’s a hell of a lot of fun racing with McLaren so I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to be in F1, and to be winning with them 18 months in is an incredible feeling.”
After being consistently in the fight for race wins since Miami, McLaren’s rise to becoming the fastest car on the grid has been nothing short of outstanding.
Compared to the back marker Piastri was greeted with when he first entered F1, the Aussie spoke extremely fondly about the machine that he took his first victory in.
“It’s a beast at the moment, it’s fast in every condition, today we had it under control completely, it was an amazing feeling to be able to manage the race like that with both cars and secure a one-two,” said Piastri.
“I’m incredibly happy for the whole team and get my first win on the board.”
Somewhat marred by the controversy, the calm Piastri began to feel anxious as the swapping process edged ever longer, with the threat of a safety car looming too.
Confidence in your team is vital in Formula 1 however, and Piastri was full of praise for the team after the Grand Prix.
“The longer you leave it of course you get a bit nervous, but it was well executed by the team, it was the right thing, I put myself in the right position at the start,” said Piastri.
“With the different strategy we had, yes my pace probably wasn’t as quick as I would have liked in the last stint, but I was still in the right position to make it happen.”
Ponderous Norris
On the opposite side of the garage, Lando Norris will be ruing a poor start to the Grand Prix which ultimately cost him victory.
Despite showing strong pace, probably faster than Piastri in the final stint, Norris gave up the lead with three laps remaining, as ordered by his team.
Focussing on the constructor’s championship and McLaren’s ever-growing presence as the fastest constructor in Formula 1, Norris seemed in positive spirits after the race.
“An amazing day for us as a team. That’s the main thing.I’m so happy. It’s been a long journey to achieve this on merit. That’s exactly what we did.We’re a long way clear of the rest and we did it in style,” said Norris to Sky Sports.
“Oscar had a good start, he got me off the line and he controlled the race well. He was coming at some point, and he deserved it today.”
A much shorter answer was given in response when asked about letting his teams he past.
“The team asked me to do it, so I did it,” said Norris.
Now with Red Bull’s constructor’s championship lead at only 51 points, compared to over 200 this time last year, the future looks very promising for McLaren as the Woking-based team dream of glory.
With McLaren’s last team championship coming back in 1999, 2024 is certainly shaping up to be a brilliant opportunity to add a ninth constructor’s title.
Commenting on the prospect, Norris said, “For sure, definitely as the constructors, two good drivers and an amazing team. It’s still a difficult, long way to go. Spa can change completely, we’ll keep pushing.”
With Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit up next, providing the last Grand Prix before the summer break, McLaren will be keen to keep up their impressive form.
Feature Image: McLaren
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