Piastri Returns With Renewed 'Confidence' To Hungarian GP After 'Awkward' First Win

Last Updated:August 01, 2025, 16:03 IST

Oscar Piastri's first F1 win in Hungary taught McLaren valuable lessons. Now, a title contender, he leads teammate Lando Norris by 16 points. McLaren aims for its 200th win.

Oscar Piastri of McLaren. (Picture credit: AFP)

Some Formula 1 races remain memorable due to thrilling action, controversy, or even being so dull they prompted a rule change. Oscar Piastri’s first F1 win, however, stands out as a benchmark for sheer awkwardness.

Piastri is pleased to return to Hungary this week, but his breakthrough victory there last year serves as a significant lesson for McLaren as they manage his title fight with teammate Lando Norris.

This lesson is even more crucial now. Piastri has evolved into a genuine title contender over the past year and currently leads Norris by 16 points following his victory in Belgium last week.

“I have a lot of confidence in myself that I can do it," the Australian said of his title chances on Thursday. “The pace in the last few weekends, especially (Belgium), I’ve been very confident in and very proud of. I’m more than capable of continuing that for the rest of the year."

McLaren could achieve some milestones this weekend, including a potential 200th win in F1 for the team. It might also mark Piastri and Norris’ fourth consecutive one-two finish, a feat McLaren last accomplished in 1988.

The championship rivalry

Piastri secured the win last year in Hungary only after McLaren had to plead over the radio with Norris to “do the right thing" and let Piastri pass, which the British driver was hesitant to do.

Piastri had been leading, but McLaren’s pit strategy — which typically favours the leader — had put Norris ahead. Piastri believes the team can still draw positives from that situation.

“I think it underlined the good nature in the team. It was obviously a slightly awkward situation, but it highlighted that we will do the right thing in all circumstances — well, ideally all circumstances — when we’re on track," Piastri said.

“It showed the trust that we have with the team and with each other as well, that things will be put the right way."

F1 has a history of title fights souring team relationships — notably at McLaren with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost over 30 years ago — but Piastri and Norris have maintained a friendly rivalry. Nonetheless, there has been a collision in Canada, a near-miss in Austria, and Piastri’s rejected request for Norris to relinquish the lead in Britain.

Piastri believes one factor preventing his relationship with Norris from deteriorating is their shared commitment to keeping McLaren at the top of F1 for “many years to come."

“We’ve all seen how it can go wrong, but we have a lot of reasons to push for it to not go wrong," he added.

Another wet race possible

F1 might be facing its third wet race in a row this Sunday after a rain-delayed start last week in Belgium divided opinion among drivers and fans.

Max Verstappen argued that “we could have started way sooner" and said the lack of racing in wet conditions was “a shame," but Piastri and others highlighted the poor visibility and specific safety concerns at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

“(Visibility) is always much worse in the car than it looks on TV, and I think the FIA has done a very good job of listening to us and taking that feedback on board," Piastri said. “The feeling in this room would be pretty different if we had a big crash last week."

With AP Inputs

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First Published:

August 01, 2025, 16:03 IST

News sports Piastri Returns With Renewed 'Confidence' To Hungarian GP After 'Awkward' First Win

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