Lando Norris was involved in one of the most controversial episodes of the 2024 Formula 1 season. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, he gave up a victory to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris had qualified on pole but he lost the lead at the start as Piastri executed a tight move down the inside of turn one. The Australian, who was still yet to win at that point, proceeded to control the race from there.
However, McLaren sensed a threat from Lewis Hamilton in third and brought Norris into the pits first to cover him off. The undercut propelled him into the lead.
The pitwall assured Piastri that Norris would return the place – they saw it as an unfair advantage – but he took some convincing. Engineer Will Joseph almost pleaded with the Englishman at times.
Eventually, Norris moved over in the closing laps. The awkward circumstances meant Piastri couldn’t fully enjoy his maiden victory.
Some felt he showed a lack of ruthlessness by complying with the instruction. But others commended his selflessness, and McLaren will feel their constructors’ championship triumph was a testament to team harmony.
Christian Horner tells Lando Norris what Max Verstappen would have done at Hungarian Grand Prix
Inevitably, the Budapest debate features heavily in the upcoming season of Drive to Survive, releasing on Friday. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner offered his verdict.
The Hungarian GP was perhaps the nadir of Max Verstappen’s season as he finished fifth after a collision with Hamilton and a series of furious radio exchanges with Gianpiero Lambiase. However, he only lost eight points to his chief title rival.
This was a missed opportunity for Norris to make major inroads. In the end, he never got closer than 44 points (after the Brazil Sprint race).
Horner offered a glimpse into the contrasting personalities of the two drivers when he said: “I guarantee Max wouldn’t have swapped.”
Lando Norris allegedly frightened of Max Verstappen as 2025 F1 title battle looms
‘Everybody in the paddock’ thinks McLaren are fastest after pre-season testing. That will cement Norris’ status as the favourite for the 2025 season.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff thinks Norris has learned from 2024 as he pursues his first championship. However one views Hungary, there were undeniably moments where he and McLaren showed a certain naivety.
Many will be eager to see how Norris approaches Verstappen in their first meaningful wheel-to-wheel battle of 2025. Some feel he allowed himself to be bullied last term.
One report claims Norris is ‘terrified’ of Verstappen when they race on track. Ideally, he can qualify on pole and cruise into the distance like he did on a few occasions last year, but it’s unlikely to be quite that simple.
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