The final race before Formula 1's summer break delivered plenty of drama in Budapest, as Lando Norris claimed a crucial victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, closing the gap to title rival Oscar Piastri.

It was a race that began with promise for Charles Leclerc, who had dominated qualifying and controlled the first two-thirds of the race from the front. However, a costly second pit stop triggered a rapid decline in pace, and the Ferrari driver eventually slipped to P4, finishing behind Piastri, George Russell (Mercedes), and the race winner.

All eyes turned to the intra-team battle at McLaren, where Piastri and Norris went head-to-head for the win. Norris gambled on a one-stop strategy, while Piastri stopped twice — a decision that would ultimately prove costly. In the closing stages, Piastri launched a final-lap attack but couldn't get past his teammate.

Lando Norris held firm to take his ninth career Grand Prix victory, and more importantly, reduced the championship lead to just nine points as the fight for the 2025 title intensifies.

Meanwhile, defending world champion Max Verstappen had a subdued afternoon, finishing only P9 in his Red Bull — a result that raises further questions about the team's mid-season form.