Last weekend Oscar Piastri won for Lando Norris, the roles were reversed in Budapest on Sunday. It is a penny change between the McLaren drivers, who are already looking forward to their title fight after the summer break.
“It’s nice, just disconnect.” Winner Norris had to work hard for the Hungaroring, with his unexpected one -stop strategy. Those three free weekends are so good for him. “Although I actually want to continue, because I still have a whole list of things that I want to improve. Because I am not making it easy for myself at the moment.”
That already started at start, where Norris initially got out of his place and was immediately attacked by Piastri. “I had just watched all kinds of videos of Starts here. But I could only dive to Oscar to the right. Then he came in the slipstream of Charles Leclerc and he went a bit faster again. I couldn’t get out of it anymore. I really think it was a bit of bad luck, a worst casencenario.”
Norris saw both George Russell and Fernando Alonso pass him by on the outside. “Brilliant,” Norris told himself. Although the Englishman Alonso quickly took back, Russell turned out to be an obstacle for Norris to connect with the fight between Piastri and Leclerc for that.
‘Get more confidence every round’
McLaren therefore soon thought of a one -stopper, knowing that the three drivers for Norris were certainly planning to stop twice. That turned out to be a golden move. “I thought it would not work for a long time,” Norris knew. “But every round I gained more confidence.”
That scenario was discussed in McLaren’s preliminary discussion, but only briefly. “We hardly talked about that,” said Piastri. “I was asked if I wanted to do it too, but from the cockpit that is very difficult to judge. It was certainly a gamble.”
That gamble paid for Norris, while Piastri bit a long time on the surprisingly strongly performing Leclerc and his Ferrari. “I don’t know what happened to Charles after his last pit stop, but until then he was very fast. I certainly don’t know if I had finally had enough speed to pass him by.”
The Ferrari, however, lost a lot of speed, so Piastri could easily pass after his second stop. The World Cup leader then focused on Norris, and quickly closed the remaining gap of more than eight seconds. “But catching up turned out to be a different story. From the moment I really came close to Lando, I lost so much grip. Even if the race had lasted even longer, I don’t know if I had passed it. But at least I tried it.”
One of those attempts caused squeezed buttocks on the pit wall at McLaren. Piastri was soon pointed to the internal rules and was no longer involved. “Painy of course, if you put it with such a margin. But it was a nice race,” said Piastri.
‘I am not worried’
For the tension in the second half of the season, the race in Hungary promised a lot. “It’s a tough fight and it probably stays that way,” said Norris. “The margins are small. I expect a nice fight to the end.”
Piastri has seen his lead shrinking in recent weeks to the seven points that the two McLaren drivers now separate. He doesn’t see a real trend in that. “My biggest lead was 23 points. The last ten races has not changed much. So I am not worried. It is also coming in a second today, that is almost every race like that. But the speed is good and I have driven good races in the last few weeks.”
The driver from Melbourne therefore also expects a title start to the final race in Abu Dhabi. “And that will be nice to see,” he concluded with a smile.
Last weekend Oscar Piastri won Before Lando Norris, Sunday in Budapest The Roles Were Reversed Again. It is nip and tuck between the McLaren drivers, who are already looking forward to their title Fight after the summer break.
“It’s nice to disconnect for a while.” Winner Norris had to work hard for it at the hungaroring, with his unexpected one-stop strategy. Those Three Free Weekends Come in Handy For Him. “Although I actual because to continuously, because I still have a whole list of things I want to improve.
That already started at the start, where norris initially got off to a good start and was able to attack piastri direct. “I had just watched all kinds of videos of starting here. But I could only dive to the right of oscar. Then he came into the slipstream of Charles leclerc and went a bit faster again. I could get out of there.
Norris Saw Both George Russell and Fernando Alonso Shoot Fits Him On The Outside. “Brilliant,” Norris Said to himself. Althegh the Englishman Quickly Tok Back Alonso, Russell Proved to Be An Obstacle for Norris to Keep Up With The Fight Between Piaastri and Leclerc Before Him.
‘Gained More Confidence Every Lap’
McLaren Therefore Quickly Thought or A One-Stopper, Knowing That The Three Drivers in Front of Norris Were Certainly Planning to Stop Twice. That turned out to be a golden move. “I thought for a long time that it wouldn’t work,” Norris Admitted. “But I Gained More Confidence Every Lap.”
That scenario was discussed letterly in McLaren’s Preliminary discussion. “We hardly talked about it,” Said Piastri. “I was asked in the Car Whether I wanted to do it too, but from the cockpit it is very difficult to judge. It was definitely a gamble.”
That gamble paid off for norris, while piastri struggled for a long time with the surprisingly strong leclerc and his ferrari. “I don’t know what happened to charles after his last pit stop, but until then he was very fast. I’m also not sure I would have had Enough speed to pass him in the end.”
However, The Ferrari Lost a Lot Of Speed, Allowing Piastri to Simply Pass It After His Second Stop. The World Cup Leader Then Set His sights on Norris, and Quickly Closed the Remoining Gap of More Than Eight Seconds. “But overtaking turned out to be a different story. From the moment I got really close to lando, I lost so much grip. Even if the race had last longer, I don’t know i would have goth fits him. But at least I tried.”
One of Those Attempts caused squeezed Buttocks on the Pit Wall at McLaren. Piastri was Quickly Pointed Out to the Internal Rules and was no Longer Involved. “Painful of course, when you lose by such a margin. But it was a fun race,” Said Piastri.
‘I’m not worried’
The race in Hungary Promised a Lot of Good for the Tension in the Second Half of the Season. “It’s a tough battle and it will probably stay that way,” Said Norris. “The Margins Are Small. I Expect A Good Fight Until the End.”
Piastri Has Seen His Lead Shrink in recently Week to the Seven Points That Separate the Two McLaren Drivers. He does not see a real trend in this. “My Biggest Lead was 23 points. Little has changed in the last ten races. So I’m not worried. It comes to a second again today, that’s Almost Every race. But the speed is good and I’ve had good races in recent weeks.”
The Driver From Melbourne also Expects A Title Fight Until the Final Race in Abu Dhabi. “And that will be great to see,” he concluded with a smile.