2026 Hungarian Grand Prix: Max and Hamilton Brought Back the Old Days While Norris Took the Win

The Hungarian Grand Prix was our final race before the summer break, so I wanted it to give me something worth remembering. After Max returned to the podium at Spa, I was hoping he could continue that form in Hungary.

Before the racing, one of my favourite stories involved Czech President Petr Pavel. Instead of arriving like an important political guest and sitting inside a comfortable hospitality suite, he turned up with official FIA accreditation and worked beside the circuit as a photographer. Imagine leading an entire country during the week and then spending your weekend trying to capture Max at 300 kilometres per hour. Fair enough, Mr President. That sounds much more enjoyable than another political meeting.

Lewis also received a permanent honour at the Hungaroring. Turn 2 was officially named after him because of his incredible record in Hungary. Eight victories and nine pole positions definitely deserve more than a small plaque somewhere. Unfortunately for Lewis, the corner carrying his name treated him better than the stewards did during the weekend.

Hamilton qualified only 0.012 seconds behind Norris, but he received a three-place penalty for blocking Piastri and dropped from second to fifth. Kimi also received a three-place penalty for failing to slow down under yellow flags, which moved him from fourth to seventh.

Kimi was already confused before the race because Ollie Bearman kept calling him “Andrea” during a prank arranged by Haas and Mercedes. Kimi looked at him like he had forgotten who he was speaking to. After all the jokes Kimi has played on people this season, someone finally managed to get him back, lol.

Norris started from pole, but Piastri passed him at Turn 2 on the opening lap. The McLarens immediately began fighting each other, while Max moved into third and Hamilton stayed close behind him.

Max was already complaining that something felt wrong with his car. He said the damping had failed and then asked the team to do something about the gear shifts. Wonderful. We had barely started and my driver was already reporting a list of problems.

Hamilton kept attacking him, and after the first pit stops, Lewis came out ahead. Then Max arrived at Turn 1 and launched the car down the inside under braking.

OHHH YES MAX!

That move immediately reminded me of their old championship battles. Max saw a small opportunity and simply went for it. Hamilton defended late, but Max still completed the pass. Afterwards, Max said on the radio that the action was nice but Lewis’s defence was “not right.” I was just happy to watch these two fighting properly again. Whenever Max and Lewis meet on the track, even a battle for third feels super important.

At the front, Norris believed he was faster than Piastri and repeatedly told McLaren. He even said, “I’m miles faster,” but the team refused to move Oscar out of the way. This was becoming another uncomfortable McLaren situation, with both drivers fighting for the same piece of track while the pit wall tried to keep everything calm.

Then Piastri reached Sainz while trying to lap him and the two cars made contact. Oscar completely lost his patience on the radio and shouted, “Get out of the ****ing way, you idiot! Oh my God!”

Ahhh Oscar, that was rude but I understand.

The contact cost Oscar time and allowed Norris to take control after the second pit stops. Piastri’s race then became even worse when his gearbox failed and he stopped beside the track. He had taken the lead from Lando, controlled the first half of the race and then watched everything disappear. I genuinely felt bad for him. One moment he was fighting for the victory, and the next he was watching his teammate drive towards it.

Piastri’s retirement brought out the Virtual Safety Car and created more confusion. Hamilton stopped for fresh tyres and initially came out ahead of Kimi, but Ferrari had to tell him to return the position because Kimi had reached the VSC line first. Lewis later received another five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. A corner had been named after him before the race, but Sunday still refused to be kind to him.

Max stayed out during the Virtual Safety Car and moved into second. Red Bull had already fitted soft tyres and told him they could “have some fun” during the final part of the race. I was worried those tyres would disappear before the finish, but Max managed them brilliantly and kept the position.

Norris crossed the line to claim his first Grand Prix victory of the season. After losing the lead on the opening lap, he stayed patient, found the speed and took full advantage when Piastri’s race fell apart. It was his first victory since becoming World Champion, and he clearly needed that moment.

Max finished second after starting fourth and spending most of the race trying to survive a difficult car. I don't want to say it our loud but Red Bull  – you @#$ Honestly, I did not expect him to finish on the podium, so I happily accepted that result. Kimi recovered from seventh to finish third, extending his championship lead even on a weekend when Mercedes did not look at its best.

I rate the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix a solid A2W 9.5/10.

A president became a photographer, Kimi temporarily became Andrea, Piastri lost the race and Max fought Hamilton like the old days – not a bad way to enter the summer break.

aKi Malik