Motorsports
Key Takeaways from F1 Hungary
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Ferrari left the Hungarian Grand Prix with mixed emotions after Charles Leclerc started from pole but finished fourth, and Lewis Hamilton ended a disappointing 12th. Yet despite the results, the team showed they still have the pace to fight for wins this season.
Ferrari’s Bad Day Hides Progress
On the surface, Ferrari’s weekend looked like another missed chance. Leclerc complained that a pit stop change to his front wing ruined his race, but later learned the real problem was something else that cost him about two seconds per lap. Team boss Fred Vasseur didn’t reveal the cause but pointed to Leclerc’s recent pole in Hungary and podium in Belgium as proof their upgraded car is competitive.
Rivals agree. McLaren’s Andrea Stella believes Ferrari will be “a contender for victories” in the remaining races. Vasseur and Mercedes’ Toto Wolff also defended Hamilton, who had called himself “useless” after the race. Wolff reminded everyone the 40-year-old is still “the GOAT” and capable of winning an eighth title.
Norris Shows a Different Side of F1
Formula One’s culture has shifted in recent years, becoming more open and compassionate. Carlos Sainz defended former McLaren teammate Lando Norris for his honesty with the media.
“He’s the only guy being 100% genuine… and then people go back at him,” Sainz said.
Norris, who has won three of the last four races, reduced teammate Oscar Piastri’s championship lead to nine points with his victory. Still, he admitted he needs to improve to make life easier for himself in the title fight.
Alonso’s Example for Hamilton
If Hamilton needed a reminder that age is just a number, Fernando Alonso delivered it. The 44-year-old Aston Martin driver shrugged off a back injury to finish fifth, his best result this year.
Alonso, a two-time champion with 417 race starts, took two years away from F1 in 2019–2020 to recover from burnout. His strong performance in Hungary showed that even veterans can still deliver when it matters.
George Russell secured pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race after edging world champion Lando Norris in qualifying at Zandvoort.
The Mercedes driver produced a fastest lap of one minute and 11.567 seconds as Formula One returned from its month-long summer break.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified third, followed by Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli managed only fifth after topping the weekend’s sole practice session.
“The lap felt really good, to be honest. It all came together nicely,” Russell said.
“I’m really happy to come back. It’s been a little while since I’ve done one of these interviews.”
Russell won the opening Grand Prix of the season but has since struggled to match the pace of Antonelli, who dominated the first half of the campaign.
The Italian teenager has won six of the first 11 races, including five in succession. He enters the second half of the season with a 50-point lead over Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli appeared less comfortable once sprint qualifying began. He struggled for grip and spun during the opening session before recovering enough to claim a place on the third row.
Home favorite Max Verstappen qualified sixth for Red Bull as thousands of orange-clad supporters filled the grandstands around the seaside circuit.
The session followed early morning rain, although the track had dried by the time the drivers began their qualifying runs.
The close margins suggest Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull could all contend during the weekend. Mercedes controlled much of the first half of the season, but the team has admitted that its development program is currently “out of sync” with improvements introduced by its rivals.
McLaren arrived with momentum after Norris claimed his first victory of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team also has a strong recent record at Zandvoort, where Norris won in 2024 before Piastri followed with victory in 2025.
Ferrari also showed competitive pace, while Verstappen will seek to give his home supporters a final victory at the circuit. The Dutch Grand Prix will leave the Formula One calendar after this year following the organizers’ decision to end the event.
“Thanks to the fans. You guys always give us a great race, and it’s a very unique circuit,” Russell told the Zandvoort crowd.
Kimi Antonelli will head to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort with a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One drivers’ championship.
The Mercedes driver sits at the top with 219 points, followed by Hamilton with 169 and George Russell with 160. Charles Leclerc is fourth with 138 points, while Lando Norris completes the top five with 128.
Max Verstappen returns to his home race in sixth place with 109 points. Oscar Piastri follows with 92, ahead of Isack Hadjar with 68, Liam Lawson with 43 and Pierre Gasly with 42.
Mercedes also leads the constructors’ championship with 379 points. Ferrari is second with 307, while McLaren holds third with 220.
Red Bull has 177 points, followed by Racing Bulls with 66 and Alpine with 61. Haas, Audi, Williams, Aston Martin and Cadillac complete the standings.
Carlos Sainz has signed a multi-year contract extension with Williams, ending speculation over his Formula One future despite a difficult season with the British team.
The announcement came a day after Williams confirmed that Alex Albon would stay for the 2027 campaign. The two drivers will continue to lead the team as it works to regain its competitive form.
Sainz joined Williams after previous stints with Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Toro Rosso. The four-time Grand Prix winner has failed to score in the past six rounds, while the team has struggled throughout the opening half of the season.
Williams also missed the first pre-season test, which left the squad playing catch-up before the campaign began.
Despite those setbacks, Sainz said he believes the team has the people and resources needed to recover.
“I’m thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Williams family,” the 31-year-old said.
“I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background.”
Sainz added that he was as committed as he was on his first day with Williams and wanted to help return the team to the front of the grid.
Team principal James Vowles welcomed the decision ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
“Carlos is a leader of this team, and I’m thrilled that he can see what’s possible as we continue to rebuild it,” Vowles said.
He added that Sainz shares Williams’ ambitions and described the Spaniard and Albon as one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid.
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